A 100-year-old gran's birthday was made even more special after the delighted centenarian was able to meet her great-grandchildren for the very first time. Joan Goodman hosted her birthday celebrations at Holme Manor Care Home in Lancashire.
Excited relatives travelled from across the country to help Joan celebrate her big day. It was a momentous occasion for the happy gathering.
After Covid disrupted families' lives, it was time to enjoy and celebrate time together for Joan and her family. Four generations attended the event which was held at the care home nestled in the Lancashire hills.
As reported by LancsLive, the VIP guest list included daughter Karen and her husband Martin Coles, her sons Adrian Percival and his wife Agata and their son Leo, two years nine months, and Henry Percival and his fiancée Marzia Del Grosso along with their son five-month-old Noah. Joan met and chatted to her relatives in the home’s specially constructed Covid pod.
This was decorated with birthday balloons, lots of flowers and a large cake. She was introduced to the newest members of the family Leo and Noah.
Later, they all enjoyed a buffet at the home. Joan said: “I have had a very nice birthday.”
Karen said: “My mum was born in Waterfoot and had a brother. My family have lived in Rossendale since 1670.
"Her father ran Vale Shoe Company. In the war my mum was an aeronautical engineer and worked on planes.”
She met Peter, from London, who was a bomb aimer on the Lancasters. After the war they married and had a daughter Karen.
Karen said: “When I was born, my mum didn’t work after that. My father died 11 years ago and my mum lived on her own until she was 96.”
Ryan Godwin, proprietor of Holme Manor, said: “Everyone at Holme Manor is more than delighted to congratulate Mrs Goodwin on her birthday. She was living on Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, until four years ago when she came to live with us.”
Joan was born in the same year that Ivy Williams became the first woman to be accepted to the English Bar, Howard Carter entered the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and the BBC was formed and the first licence fee of 10 shillings was charged.
