A Spalding woman has celebrated her 100th birthday with the people she credits for helping her reach the milestone.
Kathleen Stone, of Cross Street, reached the age of 100 on Sunday, August 16. She marked the day with a meal at The Bluebell in Glinton, near Peterborough, before gathering again with close friends and family the following day at Pennington’s Cafe.
Kathleen regularly visits the cafe with her friend Marion Loveridge. Staff have given the pair the affectionate nickname “the Prosecco ladies” because of their choice of drink.
A working life in Spalding
Kathleen was born in Spalding and worked for H Leverton and Co for more than 40 years. She recalled the shared responsibility involved in handling the company’s weekly payments.
“We used to look after the money,” she said. “There was one of us counting it out, one checking and one putting it in the envelopes to give out every week.”
Her long working life in the town forms part of a personal history that has remained closely connected to Spalding.
Family and friends thanked for their support
Kathleen has lived by herself for nearly 60 years following the death of her husband, Jimmy. At the gathering at Pennington’s Cafe, she said her family and friends were central to her reaching the milestone.
“I couldn’t have got this far on my own,” she said pointing to those around her ahead of the afternoon tea at Pennington’s. “I love them all. I’m just happy that I’ve got all these nice people around me.”
The birthday celebrations brought together the close circle around Kathleen, as well as the cafe friendship that led to her and Marion becoming known locally as the “Prosecco ladies”.
