FAMILY and friends gathered to wish Gladys Withenshaw all the best on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Mrs Withenshaw has lived all her life in Barnton, and has been a resident at Essendene residential care home in Runcorn Road, Barnton, for eight years.

She had four children, David, who lives in Barnton, Valerie and Mavis, who live in Sandiway and France respectively, and Tony, who died 20 years ago.

Mrs Withenshaw’s husband Thomas died in the early 1980s.

She has six grandchildren, and members of her family and friends and care home residents attended a party for Mrs Withenshaw at the home on Tuesday, November 25.

Mrs Withenshaw received a best wishes card from The Queen and a telegram from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

The celebrations included a singer and a buffet provided by the care home, which presented Mrs Withenshaw with a card and a bouquet.

“Everything which the home did on the day was beautiful,” said her son David, 72.

“They had a singer for her, and the meal they put on was wonderful.

“She had an awful lot of cards from people at the home, and the singer performed the old favourites.

“She had a lovely day, and I would like to thank the home for everything they did and for everyone for coming along – I could not have found a better place for my mother to go than Essendene.”

The people who attended the party included Mavis, who travelled from France for the occasion, her daughter Nicola and her baby daughter Poppy, and David and his daughter Sandra. David’s wife Wendy was unable to attend the celebrations because of illness. Also attending were Valerie’s children Ian and Neil.

Mrs Withenshaw worked at Marks and Spencer when it was situated in Witton Street, Northwich, and her husband worked as a fitter at ICI.

“My mother lived all her married life at Crocus Street in Barnton, and was driving into her 80s,” said David.

“She also enjoyed ballroom dancing, and went once or twice a week into her 80s with a group of friends.”