Birthday is cause to party!

Her daughter, Rosie Catt, organised a party at Allison House in Sandy on Sunday (July 31), the day of Ethel’s birthday. She had a 100 cake made by a family friend, which was lit by celebratory candles.

Barbershop quartet, Evolution, sang during the afternoon as Ethel has always loved music.

She has lived at the house since 2002, initially just receiving care but later moving to the dementia unit. Rosie said: “She was born in Paddington in London. My father was in the Royal Navy and they lived in Wembley Park.

“He got cancer in the war and he died when I was three months old.

“She remarried when I was 14 and her husband was a groundsman at Canon’s Park near Edgware.

“The London schools used to come out there by coach. She’d look after the showers and facilities and the tuck shop. She had a hard working life.

“Before that she ran a bakery shop – Pritchards. She was the overall manager. She could add up like nobody’s business.

“When I went shopping with her she could get the answer before the girl at the till had added the goods up!

“She was also the most fantastic whistler and she sang and played the piano by ear.”

To read the full story see the Biggleswade Chronicle of Friday, August 5.