Five generations celebrate Harry’s 100th birthday

LIFELONG Latics fan Harry Whittaker won’t be short of company on his 100th birthday.

That is because the former army man will be surrounded by four generations of his family to help him celebrate the milestone occasion today.

Daughter Liana Shaw, grand-daughter Debbie Heard, great-grand-daughter Kelly Winstanley and eight-year-old great-great-grand-daughter Aimee-Leigh (pictured) will be enjoying a meal out with Harry on his big day.

In total, Harry has seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grand-daughters.

He puts his ripe old age down to plenty of exercise, especially his love of ballroom dancing.

He said: “Not drinking, not smoking and a healthy diet, I think, has helped me a lot.”

Harry was the eldest of five sons and three daughters born to Jim and Edith Whittaker. Brothers and sister Jim (90), Ivy (90) and Sam (82) are still alive and living in Oldham.

He moved to Prince George Street, in Watersheddings, 40 years ago and grand-daughter Debbie Heard remembers there were still tin baths in the kitchen.

Harry worked as a decorator and, while on a job in Birmingham, he met Margaret Evans. They married in 1939 when she was 19 and he was 24.

When the Second World War broke out, Harry joined the Army as a driver and served in the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt and Normandy, France.

When he returned from the war in 1946, he and Margaret had four children — Brian, who died in 1999, Melyvyn (67), Liana (64) and Anthony (60), who runs M&S Car Sales in Middleton Road, Chadderton.

Harry owned his own business, a wallpaper shop, which he worked in alongside Margaret until it burned down in 1976.

After his wife died in 1994, aged 73, he met Ethel Barker a few years later and the pair lived in Hartlepool until she died last year. Harry then returned to Oldham to be closer to his family.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed my life — I’ve been a lucky fella.”

Although he can’t get to Boundary Park to cheer on the Latics, he eagerly reads the match reports in the Chronicle.

Liana, a retired business woman, said: “We had a lovely time as children. He made my wish come true. I used to love horse riding so on my 13th birthday he got me my own pony — every girl’s dream!”

Grand-daughter Debbie (47), who works in catering, said: “He’s a smart man and he knows what he wants.

“We’ve got good memories of him. We’ve always had a close relationship. We’re so proud of him.”

Great-grand-daughter Kelly Winstanley (28) has fond memories of Harry taking her shopping and looking after her when she was younger.

She said: “I was the favourite when I came along. I was his number one.”