Packed party for 100-year-old in Grantham

Ann Farrow said that she ‘doesn’t feel like 100’, but that is how old she turned today, surrounded by family and friends.

The centenarian celebrated with an appropriately big party at Kings Court nursing home, where she has been a resident for the last four years.

She was joined by her daughter Susan and sons John, Trevor and Alan, as well as some of her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren who had travelled from far and wide to see Ann on her special day.

During her 100 years she has also made many friends, including hairdressers Ann Moulsher and Diana Walkers, who each at different points cut Ann’s hair on a weekly basis back when she was living in her longtime home of Bottesford.

They said: “She is very family-orientated - very proud of her family. She liked to show us her photos and point them all out to us.”

Born in the village of Wheatley Hill in County Durham, Ann came to the area to work as a pastry cook at Aveling-Barford. Her first husband Charlie was killed in the Second World War, with whom she had a son, Derek, who has also sadly passed away.

With her second husband George, Ann had four children. The eldest, Susan Hall, said: “She has always been there for us, no matter what has happened. And through everything, the loss of each of her husbands and her son, she has remained a positive person.”

Asked how she felt about her momentous birthday, Ann said: “It doesn’t feel like I’m 100. I feel younger.”

Residents and staff at Kings Court joined in with the celebrations, including carer Kim Jackson who said: “She is a lovely lady, who knows what she wants and is no trouble.”

Indeed many at the party described Ann as a determined lady who knows her own mind, although few would blame her for that after 100 years.