| Monday 22nd May 2006 |
187/2006 |
A Springfield sheltered housing resident is celebrating with family and friends this week after reaching a major milestone.
Pagefield House resident May Livesey, born in the same year as the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and Polish-born film maker Billy Wilder, is 100 years old. She received a congratulatory message from the Queen and a visit from Wigan & Leigh Housing Chief Executive, Peter Gee, on becoming the first resident in the 36 year history of Pagefield House to turn 100.
Sprightly May Livesey is pictured with Wigan & Leigh Housing Chief Executive, Peter Gee
May was born in Darlington Street East, Wigan, in 1906, the youngest of 13 children – nine brothers and four sisters. She lived there until 1992, when she moved to Pagefield House.
May said:
“You might say good, clean living is the secret to a long life, but I’m very lucky as my family has a history of it. My mum lived until she was 91 and my sister Lilian, who also lived in Pagefield House, was 96 when she passed away.
“Lilian always wanted to live until she was 100 and she’ll be banging a drum up there and very happy for me I’m sure. I even have two nieces, Millie and Bessie, who are both 90 years of age and going strong!
”My sons have said that coming into Pagefield House was the best move I ever made. I’ve met lots of friends and it’s so much better than being alone. I couldn’t be looked after better.”
Wigan & Leigh Housing Chief Executive, Peter Gee added:
“I was delighted to be invited to join with May’s family and friends in celebrating her achievement. May is a remarkable lady who enjoys her independence, but also benefits from the security and support she receives from the scheme manager, her family and friends at Pagefield House. And there are one or two other tenants at the scheme who have told me that they have that 100 years target in their sights!”
Other notable events of 1906 included the launch of HMS Dreadnought, the San Francisco earthquake and the founding of Rolls Royce.