A Southport lady who says she has “lived a life full of sunshine” has celebrated her 102nd birthday.
Clarice Tinlin, who was born a year after the end of the First World War, enjoyed a special birthday at MHA Connell Court in Birkdale in Southport with visits from her family and a trip out to local cafés in Birkdale village.
Clarice was born on 30th August 1919 in Cadishead, within sight of the Manchester Ship Canal. Her family were Wesleyan Methodists, and, in line with Methodist principles, Clarice would relate with pride how she took the Temperance Pledge to “abstain absolutely from the consumption of any alcoholic beverage,” a pledge she has upheld, non-judgmentally, all her life.
Her father was a master baker – so aged 14, she left school to work in the family’s grocery business. She loved working in the shop, where her quick brain and happy demeanour were a great asset. She continued to work there throughout the Second World War.
It was at school where she met her first husband, John. They married in 1940 when he had completed his apprenticeship as a draughtsman with British Steel and she had turned 21. They went on to have two children.
As John’s career moved onwards and upwards, the couple lived in Scotland and Nigeria, before settling in Southport in 1958. Sadly, John died in 1969, leaving Clarice broken-hearted – but sunshine appeared again when, in 1975, she married her second husband Ron. The pair spent their retirement travelling Britain and Europe in their caravan.
Clarice has a large, blended family consisting of 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren, all of whom adore her.
MHA Connell Court Home Manager, Anna Harvey, said: “Clarice is a delight to have in the home and she brightens up every day with her smile.
“She always says that she has lived a life full of sunshine – and we can still see her sense of fun at the great age of 102.”
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