A popular and industrious woman has celebrated her 100th birthday.
Olive Quinn, a regular visitor to Belong care village in Macclesfield, welcomed the landmark occasion with a party with family and friends, where she opened her card from the Queen.
The great, great grandmother said that the secret to her long life was to have fighting spirit and to enjoy a little drink every now and then.
Olive was born in Manchester and spent her early years battling for the attention of their parents against her three brothers.
In her late teens Olive embarked on a romance with her next door neighbour, Charles Quinn, which was forbidden by both families because of their religious beliefs.
But in 1937 the star-crossed lovers wed regardless and two years later had the first of their two children Maureen, followed by Paul a few years later.
While raising her family Olive did her for the war effort, producing munitions in a factory, as well as working as a bus conductor and butcher.
After the conflict she became very industrious running a grocery shop, hardware store and market stall.
In the 1950s the family decided to emigrate to America, and for a year lived in New York. However, Olive was too homesick and they returned to the UK.
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Charles started a successful epoxy resin business and the family moved to live in Knutsford, Northenden and later Wilmslow.
However tragedy struck the family when Paul was killed in a boating accident, aged 28.
Olive kept herself busy working, but was happiest indulging her hobbies and gardening and antiques.
Charles died in the early 1990s but Olive was determined to live an independent life for as long as possible and only gave up driving when she was 95.
For the last six years Olive has attended Belong Macclesfield as an experience day client, which means she gets to access all the facilities and enjoy the activities with other residents.
Olive, who now lives with Maureen in Wilmslow, is also kept busy keeping up with the lives of her four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
Maureen said: “Mum was always a strong character, thanks to growing up with four brothers. She has never been idle and was very industrious. She has lived a happy life and loves her regular visit to Macclesfield.”
