Parties in homes for 100th birthdays

TWO 100-year-olds from Walsall have been celebrating this week after receiving messages from the Queen.

Elsie Roe, originally from Walsall Wood, and Edith Pedley, who lived in Pleck, both marked the milestone with family and friends.

On Saturday, Elsie celebrated her birthday at Hammerwich Hall Nursing Home in Burntwood.

As a 14-year-old she started work at glove makers D Powers and Sons, who supplied high-end products to stores such as Marshall and Snelgrove in Birmingham.

She married Charles in 1933 and lived in Walsall Wood and High Heath.

The couple had two daughters, Janice and Glenda, and Elsie now has four granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.

After bringing up her family, Elsie returned to glove making at family company Tarantela, before later working as a waitress at the Co-op Kenmare restaurant.

She enjoyed gardening and dancing into her 90s and was a member of the Walsall Townswomen's Guild and the Gas Federation.

On Saturday, Elsie received her second telegram from the Queen, the first came in 1993 following 60 years of marriage.

Her daughter Glenda said: "Mum always looks on the bright side and never sees bad in people.

"If there were any arguments she was always the one to make peace."

Meanwhile, Edith celebrated her 100 years on Tuesday with a party at Mill Lodge Residential Home, High Heath.

One of ten children, she now lives in the home with her younger sister Ada, aged 91. Both women never married.

Edith was born and brought up in Pleck and she and Ada were active members of the town's Methodist church as part of the choir and as Sunday school teachers.

She worked from the age of 14 until she was 60 with buckle firm Eyland and Sons in Lower Rushall Street, Walsall.

Edith played piano and the spinsters enjoyed going to the theatre.

They have never been abroad, but enjoyed holidays in resorts such as Eastbourne and Llandudno.

Edith's niece, Doris Hutchinson, said: "My aunt wouldn't let anybody walk over her and she is still like that.

"She kept her home going until five years ago and has always been very independent."