Best friends at 103

Irene Jones (right) celebrates with fellow 103-year-olds Edith Milne

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for much-loved great-grandmother Irene Jones who celebrates her 103rd birthday today.

And one of the first to wish her a Happy Birthday was her best friend Edith Milne, who celebrated her own 103rd birthday in February.

The firm friends both live at Oakdene Care Home, Stamford Road, Lees, and enjoyed a small gathering with family and friends yesterday to mark Irene’s big day.

Her daughter, Kathleen Fox, from Lees, said: “Edith grew up in Lees as did my mother, and Edith remembers mum being a little girl.

“Edith is always looking out for mum — the pair are very close and always holding hands.”

In her younger days, Irene worked at the former Glen Mill, Lees, before she went on to become a dinner lady at Springhead School.

The mother-of-two, whose late husband Ted died 40 years ago, has five grand-daughters and 12 great-grandchildren

She lived independently in Springhead until Christmas, 2008, when she moved into Oakdene Care Home, where two of her grand-daughters work.

Mrs Fox said: “Mum stayed active well into her 90s and when she was living independently, she would always have half a Guinness at bedtime.

“She continues to surprise us.”