Marjorie celebrates 100th birthday at Westy Hall Care Home

Marjorie Cross, from Padgate, celebrated a century of living this week with staff and friends at Westy Hall Care Home, where she is known as ‘Queen Marjorie’.

Born in 1920 to Lilian and Harry Widdop and the youngest of five siblings, she attended Oakwood School and Elmwood Congregational Church.

As a teenager, she played netball for Warrington, loved ballet and enjoyed cycling, before taking up clerical work at RAF Burtonwood Airbase, Alliance Box Works and Hanson and Edwards, just to name a few.

In July 1942, Marjorie married her husband Gerrard, and they spent their honeymoon in Blackpool because of the Second World War.

Together, they had two children – Katherine and Lynda – four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Before moving to Westy Hall, Marjorie loved taking her grandchildren on fishing trips to Walton Hall and Gardens, Delamere Forest and north Wales, as well as spending time with her sister, Doris, and nieces, Sheila and Katheleen.

Other hobbies include knitting, doing crosswords and reading, especially the Warrington Guardian.

Unfortunately, coronavirus stopped visits and celebrations with family members on her birthday, but her amazing friends at Westy Hall celebrated with her.

To mark the special occasion, they had a sing-along, balloons, buck’s fizz and a cake made by her granddaughters, Louise and Helen.

“Mum would attribute her long life to eating little meat, not smoking, only drinking alcohol on special occasions, being nosey and coming from a good Yorkshire stock, as her father was a Yorkshireman,” said her daughter, Katherine.

“All the family would like to thank all the lovely ladies at Westy Hall for all they do for her and for making her day so special. A few happy tears were shed.

“As a family, we would just like to say we all love you and that you have made us the people we are today.

“100-not out – what a great achievement!”