Padiham centenarian celebrates turning 100

Rosemary Fairclough, who lives on Rossall Close, was born on November 14th, 1917, and as well as receiving the customary congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II, was wished a very happy birthday by the Mayor of Padiham, Councillor Ken Buckley, and Councillor Jean Cunningham.

Rosemary, who was born in Stalybridge in Greater Manchester, worked as a skivvy during WWII, living in Warrington, Altringham, and Burnley before moving to Padiham at the age of 70.

"I was a skivvy in the old days and during the war I went off doing war work in Rosegrove," said Rosemary. "I learned how to be a skivvy working in Warrington where I was a maid."

Widowed in 1997 after her husband Douglas sadly died, Rosemary was nevertheless treated to a visit from her only daughter, Susan Fairclough (66), who travelled in from the Bahamas where she has lived for the last 35 years to be with her mother on her special day.

"I was 70 when I came to Padiham, to this very house," Rosemary said. "I'm hoping the Queen will come along to have a look at the picture she sent me on the wall!"

A keen dancer, Rosemary - who used to work at a Espresso Cafe in Burnley when she was younger - had been sequence dancing regularly at St. John's in Padiham until two years ago, and said her secret for keeping young was: "Don't get bothered by things!"