Surprise party marks Marian's 90th celebrations
FAMILY and friends gathered at a surprise party to celebrate a former Todmorden woman's 90th birthday.
Marian Kettley, who reached the milestone yesterday (July 1), thought she was going out for afternoon tea but was taken to her daughter's house where friends and neighbours had arrived from as far away as Scarborough to be with her on her special day.
Marian said: "It was a complete surprise. I had no idea - talk about gobsmacked.
"It was really nice to see everybody. It really was a treat."
Marian, of Littleborough, used to live at Commercial Street, Todmorden, until 1975 and is still a regular visitor to the town. "I went to see it at the weekend. It was nice," she said.
"They have done wonders there. I still love Todmorden and go back when I can. I like to reminisce and still have friends that I worked with there."
She worked at the Sandholme Iron Company for 20 years. She also had a job in the fuel office during the war when fuel was rationed.
Over the years, she has also worked at Knighton's confectioners, Thomas's of Bond Street, a reed shop and for the DHSS. "I've had a varied career," she said.
Marian (nee Greenwood), originally from Eastwood, met her husband, Harold Kettley, from Walsden, at a Christmas party before the second world war.
They married at Patmos Congregational Church , Todmorden, in 1944 and celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2004, receiving a card from the Queen. Harold died four years ago.
Marian likes to spend time with her family. She has a son, John, a daughter, Susan, and three grandchildren, Vicky, Charlie and George.
Her son John is a famous weatherman and she remembers the first time she saw him on TV.
"Susan took me down to Sandacre, near Nottingham," she said. "We tuned all the TVs to John and all I could say was 'He has washed his hair!'
"He always wanted to do something to do with the weather. He had a keen interest in it from a young age. He had a jam jar in the back garden catching rain."
Marian went to Roomfield School, where her favourite subject was maths. She learned to play the piano and still has an organ in her kitchen. Her favourite song is Bridge Over Troubled Water.
She achieved a City and Guilds qualification in baking and still cooks every day. "I don't feel old. I feel quite young in my mind," she said.
She spends her time doing crosswords to keep her mind active and also enjoys watching TV, especially antiques programmes, housing programmes, period dramas and quizzes.
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Weather for Halifax
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
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