A BROMSGROVE great-grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday with an afternoon family tea party, complete with beautiful birthday cake and bucks fizz.
Marion Pardoe, who has lived at Breme Care Home for four years, puts her longevity down to ‘a little bit of what you fancy doing you good’.
Marion, who was born in Selly Oak in Birmingham to parents Margaret and Charles Turrell, loves nothing more than a packet of Walkers salt and vinegar crisps and a glass of lemonade.
She is the last surviving of three siblings and three step brothers and sisters.
As a child she excelled at swimming and was a keen pianist, even once playing for the renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Having left school Marion’s first job was working in the financial department of the labour exchange in Birmingham.
She married Bill Pardoe in 1938 at St Wulstan’s Church in Selly Oak and had two sons David and John.
Her sister Kathleen was originally due to have a date with Bill but Marion said: “I took a fancy to him instead.”
Since then they never looked back.
Bill worked as a photographer at Birmingham Medical School and his photographs illustrated medical books used to train surgeons. Sadly, Bill passed away on
Christmas Eve in 1968 at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack.
Marion’s family of four has blossomed to four generations which includes four grandchildren, Sally, Sarah, Jeanette and Tina, and five great-grandchildren.
Breme Care Home’s activities leader Helen Barron said: “Marion is an amazing lady – she is very cheeky and loves having a gossip.
“We are all so proud to be celebrating such a special birthday with her.”
