Surprise party to mark 100th birthday for Ellesmere Port resident

A SURPRISE party was held at an Ellesmere Port care home to celebrate the 100^th birthday of great grandmother Evelyn Pettitt.

Evelyn was delighted when she was taken to the visitor pod at Aaron Court Care Home, on Princes Road, where two members of her family were waiting to wish her a happy birthday and others were in the garden outside.

Daughter Elaine Walkden was joined by her son, Steven, and her two grandchildren, Liam and Sophie, as well as extended family, to mark the occasion.

Elaine ordered a specially made 100^th birthday cake for the day, decorated with flowers, butterflies and a sign saying “happy birthday mum”.

Before the event, Evelyn was treated a pampering session, when a hairdresser was arranged to visit, and she was presented with a bouquet of flowers donated by Floral Oyster, in Great Sutton.

She also opened her card from the Queen congratulating her on her milestone.

Evelyn said: “This is wonderful. I love seeing my family. How kind the staff all are helping to arrange all this.”

Evelyn was born in Patricroft, Eccles, Greater Manchester, on 15^th July 1921, where she grew up with her two sisters, Joan and Margaret.

She later married Wilfred Pettitt, with whom she had one child. She enjoyed dancing with her husband when she was younger and, in her later years, played bingo with her sisters.

During the Second World War, she worked for the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), making munitions. She then got a job at diesel-engine production company L. Gardner and Sons Ltd, based in Hulme, Manchester, where she worked until retirement.

She moved to Aaron Court Care Home in March 2020, where she has been making everyone smile since the day she moved in, according to activities coordinator Julie Lloyd.

Julie, who dressed in 1920s flapper girl style for the party, said: “Evelyn is such a lovely lady. She tells us jokes all the time and has everyone laughing. It was wonderful to see her smile and be so happy at the party.”