A former Royal Navy servicewoman who served in the Second World War, recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a special get together hosted by the Mayor of Oldham.
Margaret Taylor, from Greenacres, reached this extraordinary milestone on Tuesday as she attended the Mayor’s Parlour with her family to mark the occasion.
Upon arriving, Margaret was warmly greeted by members of the Royal British Legion Standards and the Mayor, a reception which joyfully brought tears to her eyes.
Later on, as part of the celebrations, Councillor Zahid Chauhan presented Margaret with a special birthday card and a bouquet of flowers as they enjoyed conversations about her life over a cup of tea and some cake.
When asked what it was like to reach 100, Margaret simply replied ‘I’m speechless and overwhelmed’ before she advised guests that a ‘clean living’ was the best way to live so long.
When the Mayor asked for further words of wisdom, Margaret added: “If you’ve got children, they’re and a labour of love and they make you happy.
“They give you many tears, but they also give you lots of happiness, so enjoy every moment.”
Margaret served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service from the age of 16 before contributing to the Second World War effort in the Outer Hebrides, where her role in logistics involved overseeing supplies that went aboard naval ships.
She joked ‘the role was one you couldn’t afford to get wrong’ given the drastic consequences it would have had to those serving at sea.
Following the war, Margaret went on to tie the knot with her husband John Taylor in 1949, upon which the newlyweds started married life together in their new home on Godson Street.
After leaving the Navy, Margaret later take up a role at Fitton Hill Secondary Modern where she worked as a dinner lady until the age of 60.
