Melling resident Mary Burgess was surprised with a very special birthday party on Wednesday 15^th December, after her 100^th birthday celebrations were curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020.

Last year she could only mark becoming a centenarian on her doorstep.

So, Mary’s friends from her local pensioners club wanted to throw her a belated party to ensure they could all mark the magnificent milestone together.

Mary attends Cabinet Member Cllr Atkinson’s monthly health and wellbeing club, so she attended the Holy Rosary Parochial Club to join the surprise.

There was a spot of bingo, afternoon tea and plenty of birthday cake.

Cllr Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, and Molyneux ward councillor said:

“Mary is a fantastic member of the local community and always first in line for bingo tickets when she attends my monthly health and wellbeing classes.

“It was just brilliant to celebrate in a small way with Mary and I hope that she feels special as she marks this incredible milestone.”

Born in Liverpool on 15^th December 1920, Mary has lived in Melling for more than 30 years. She has five children and more than 30 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In her 90s she overcame breast cancer and is still an active member of two local pensioners clubs. Once restrictions began to ease, Mary was one of the first to return to the local clubs and wellbeing group. Most recently she’s enjoyed visits to Boundary Mill with one of the groups and has just got back from her ‘Turkey & Tinsel’ holiday in Bournemouth.

Thankfully Mary got through the worst of the pandemic with very few problems and is said to be enjoying using her bus pass once again for shopping trips to Liverpool and doesn’t know what she would do without it.

Happy Birthday Marvellous Mary!