Popular Nan gets a visit from the Mayor on her 103rd birthday!

Annie Schofield was delighted to receive a very special visit as she celebrated her 103rd birthday at the Millfield Care Home in Oldham.

Annie, who prefers to be known as 'Nan', welcomed the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Zahid Chauhan OBE, as he joined in the celebrations with family, fellow residents and staff.

Nan was born on July 23, 1920 at home in Diggle.

Her mother's name was Louie, and she worked as a weaver in a mill.

Her father was Ephraim, who worked supervising road workers.

Nan was an only child who went to Diggle council school at the age of five.

There she became friends with Dorothy Schofield, with Nan recalling: "Dorothy was academically brilliant, but I was better at sport and physical activities.

"Friends were always very important as I had no brothers or sisters, and nor did Dorothy, so we were a good match."

Then in year 11 Nan got a scholarship at Hulme Grammar school, studying there until she was 18.

She then went on to Bingley training college to teach various subjects, including sport and PE, up until the war started.

Then Nan met Jack at a dance at Lees Co-Op, and they dated for around 12 months.

When he was on leave from the war (Jack signed up even though he could have been excused as he was a funeral director) for a few days, they quickly got married before he went back off to West Africa.

They honeymooned in Blackpool for three days, and after that didn't see one another for two-and-a-half years.

Nan and Jack went on to have three daughters; Janet, Catherine and Alison.

Nan also has six beautiful grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren,,who she loves very much.

Over the years Nan moved around to various parts of Saddleworth Village, but ended up staying in Uppermill where she settled for many happy years with lots of wonderful memories up until joining everyone at Millfield Care Home.

Nan said: "I feel that my life has been quite ordinary - dotted with some unpleasant events - but the mjority of it has been happy and productive."

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