‘Enjoy everything’ says Edith as she turns 101
AGREAT-GREAT grandmother celebrated her 101st birthday surrounded by five generations of her family.
Edith Main, from Ashington, was surrounded friends and family on Monday, including the youngest and newest member, her great-great grandson, five-month-old Sebastian Lawton.
Edith, who has only been at Riverside House care home in Morpeth for just over a year, was born in Ashington, where she has lived most of her life, and met her husband at the Ashington Institute in 1944.
Family gathered on Monday at the care home and reminisced about Edith’s life, speaking about some of her fondest memories, including her love of dancing and how she taught her daughter, Pat Jackson, how to dance when she was young, but also Newcastle United and England legend Jackie Milburn.
In her childhood, Edith enjoyed a move to Berwick-Upon-Tweed as a young girl for a short period whilst her father had a job playing piano at the Berwick Playhouse for the silent black and white movies.
Upon moving back to Ashington as a young woman, and meeting her
husband, she got married and welcomed her only daughter Patricia.
Edith then embarked on a career first at the grocery store Lipton’s, before becoming manager for several years at the Cooperative Society, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Since leaving work, she has spent the remaining years looking after her growing family.
But it was her connection to Newcastle legend, footballer Jackie Millburn, also born in Ashington in 1924, that family joke as her claim to fame.
Despite being a pro on the pitch, it wasn’t until Edith got his steps into shape that she helped him learn a few moves on the dance floor at the old Ashington Arcade.
“Jackie Millburn was even supposed to the best man at my parents’ wedding until he had an accident and had to get all his teeth taken out!” Edith’s daughter, Pat joked.
When asked what’s the secret to living to 101 years, Edith simply said: “Enjoying everything and spending time with my family.”
Her daughter Pat, 69, also added: “She has never drank and never smoked her whole life, so maybe that’s helped her reach this age!”
Her family also spoke of Edith’s love of being sociable and funny sense of humour, as Edith joked she “would always tell the truth.”
Edith’s kind nature, and her tendency to not want to bother anyone, has also become legendary among the family.
A couple of years ago where Edith thought she had been struck by lightening in the back of her head, but didn’t want to worry daughter Pat so didn’t mention until a few days later. Thankfully after a trip to hospital and receiving stitches, Edith made a full recovery.
The celebrations, which were also attended by the Mayor of Morpeth Betty Bawn who presented Edith with a bouquet of flowers, and featured entertainment by Christine Rosemond, who dedicated songs from a playlist of Edith’s favourite music.