A party was set to be held today to celebrate the 100th birthday of a woman who has lived in Worcester all her life.
A birthday message from the Queen will be among the cards for Elsie MacFarlane, who lives at Red Hill Court care home in London Road.
An old time sing-song is planned for the party, which Mayor of Worcester Mike Layland will attend.
The centenarian was born in the city in 1910 as Elsie Bishop and lived as a child at the lock keeper’s cottage in Gregory Mill Street, Barbourne.
Her father was the lock keeper.
Mrs MacFarlane remembered playing with other youngsters in the yard and watching the barges go past.
She had fond memories of the ones carrying ‘chocolate waste’ from the Cadbury’s factory as on many of those trips kind-hearted workers would leave behind a bucket of chocolate for the youngsters.
She attended St Stephen’s School and at the age of 16 went to work at the Collins factory packing ladies’ underwear.
In 1940 she married George MacFarlane at St Barnabas Church, Church Road, Rainbow Hill.
The couple lived in Dines Green, although Mr MacFarlane sadly died in 1973.
When asked the secret of her longevity, Mrs MacFarlane said: “Living a quiet life and keeping off the booze.”
She said that she lived one day at a time, thanking God for each day.
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