A WORCESTER animal lover has celebrated her 101st birthday with a Dalmatian themed party.
Norah Harris said her secret of reaching the impressive age was down to a fighting spirit, hard work and a good pair of stiletto heels, at the party on Tuesday (November 10) at Sanctuary Care’s Juniper House Residential Care Home in St John’s.
As part of the celebrations, the team organised for Dalmatian Luca from British Dalmatian Welfare in Bristol to pop along for a surprise visit, and the home was decked in black and white with manager, Cindy Hawkins, dressed as Cruella de Vil, from the classic canine film.
Born in Birmingham as an only child to parents Francis and Mary-Ellen, both originally from Ireland, Norah grew up in Selly Oak before her father was killed in the Battle of the Somme during the First World War.
Since her 100th birthday, Norah discovered where her father was buried at a communal grave in France, and that he has his name on a special memorial placed there.
In 1936 Norah met husband-to-be Arthur who was killed in service in 1945 on the border of Germany and Holland, thereafter Norah spent most of her life drilling in factories to get by.
The birthday girl, who has four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren said: “Life has not always been easy but I’ve just got on with it and feel happy to be celebrating my birthday.”
Norah’s daughter, Meryl Bradshaw said: “We’re all very proud of her and very much amazed. She is tough as old boots and is bright as a button, and full of life. You would never believe she was 101.
“It was a very hard life for her. When she got the telegram to say my dad had been killed she knew she was going to have to go to work because the government only gave widows ten shillings a week and she had a mortgage to pay.
“She did have it tough and had to work all her life.
“I know it sounds funny but she wore stiletto heels until she was 65, she was always clipping around in them.
“She used to walk down the hill to work at 5.30am, waking up the neighbours because there was no double glazing, and then back up the hill afterwards. Everybody knew who it was because you could hear her coming, but it kept her fit,” she added.
