Happy 100th birthday Minnie

Minnie Conlon, nee Baxter, celebrated her 100th birthday with a special party at CLS Care Home, Ancliffe in Goose Green, Wigan. Among Minnie’s birthday gifts and cards, was a special card from the Queen, congratulating her on becoming a member of the exclusive ‘centenarian club’.

Born in her family home on Buckley Street on 18 June 1910, Minnie has lived in the Wigan area all of her life. Minnie says her favourite decade was the 1920s, when she started ‘courting’, and that the best moment of her life was when she married her husband, Jack Conlon, who passed away in 1984. Minnie lived on her own at their home in Swinley before moving to Ancliffe just five weeks ago, following a stroke earlier this year.

Commenting on life at the CLS-run home, Minnie says: “I like the company and the staff are all very pleasant and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble for them. I enjoy having a good old natter with my new friends, and I enjoy the old time music and social events that are put on by the activities staff.”

For Minnie, it seems that long life may be in the genes, with both parents living beyond 90, and brothers and sisters living into their late 80s and 90s. However, when asked what her secret to long life was, Minnie cited the regular nights out with her husband and friends, when she used to enjoy a glass of bitter.

Perhaps it was the healthy balance of work and play, as Minnie has a strong work ethic too, having started work pressing soldiers uniforms during the war, before going on to work at Swinley Laundry for 30 years.

Indeed, Minnie says that the event that has made the biggest change to Britain was the war as it gave women more independence and opportunity to work.

Minnie with her great nephews at the party.