Cards pour in from the community as a Wigan grandmother celebrates her landmark 100th birthday
Care home resident Nelly Kelly received many birthday cards from the community as she turned 100.
Kind-hearted Wiganers passed on their best wishes to the borough’s newest centenarian as she celebrated her landmark birthday.
Staff at Ashton View Care Home, in Ashton, asked as many people as possible to send cards to Nelly Kelly as she turned 100, in an appeal published by Wigan Today.
And she had plenty of envelopes to open as she enjoyed a party with her loved ones and staff at the home, which also featured balloons, cake and flowers.
Mrs Kelly also received a very special letter from King Charles III, who wished her well on such a momentous day.
One of 13 children, she was born in Atherton in 1926, when King George V was on the throne and just months after a general strike involving more than a million workers across the country.
She went on to marry husband Fred, with whom she had a son Geoffrey, who sadly died many years ago. She now has a grandson Chris, who visits her.
She initially worked in the mills, before the Kellys decided to buy a corner shop in Platt Bridge, which they called Mrs Kelly’s.
The shop was known for its sweets, including a penny tray and a fruit bubble gum machine outside where customers would get a free one every fourth turn.
Nelly has even recalled chasing a few shoplifters over the years!
She has fond memories of days out to Southport with Fred and loved listening to and watching brass bands. Her son Geoffrey was a member of a band.