Popular nurse and charity fund-raiser was born on VE Day

Patricia worked as a nurse in the borough's hospitals and also served as a branch secretary for Unison representing the views and interests of health service staff.

She also raised a huge amount of money for charities including Wigan and Leigh Hospice and hospital appeals through a prize draw she set up for council and NHS employees.

She spoke of her arrival in the world and how her mum Margaret Whittle had to miss the end-of-war festivities as she was in labour in the family's Scholes home.

Patricia Halliwell during her career as a nurse

However, she gave her daughter the middle name Victoria to mark the occasion and ensured her date of birth was something that has been important to Patricia throughout her life.

Patricia was all geared up to celebrate the latest big occasion, but unfortunately the Covid-19 pandemic has put something of a dampener on things.

Patricia said: "My mother always said that everyone was out partying on VE Day and she was having me. After I was born my dad brought her a bottle of Guinness from the party.

"I'm proud to celebrate both my birthday and VE Day. Whenever I'm asked for my date of birth I always add that it is VE Day.

"It was important to my mum and dad and I loved them. My mum reminded me of it all the time and it's something that's stuck in my head.

"I was looking forward to this year with it being the 75th anniversary, I wanted to watch the parades on TV or go into Wigan for an event, but obviously there's nothing at all now."

In the course of a long career with the NHS, which started when she was a 16-year-old cadet nurse, Patricia was invited to a number of high-profile occasions and met famous faces such as Princess Diana and the Duchess of Gloucester.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL) NHS Foundation Trust has sent her a birthday message.

The Trust's chairman Robert Armstrong said: “Both Silas Nicholls, the CEO of WWL, and myself, would like to wish Patricia a very happy birthday. Patricia has shown such dedication to WWL and the NHS as a whole and has made a real difference to our Trust.

"We send her our very best wishes, and a huge thank you, from everyone at WWL.”