One of Britain’s oldest women is celebrating her 112th birthday today – with sandwiches, cake and a royal message.
Marjorie Hodnett Aylward, lovingly known as ‘Aunt Marj’, is officially the oldest person in the North West and the fifth oldest in the UK.
The remarkable centenarian is marking her big day at Formby Manor in Merseyside, where she has lived for the past six years.
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She has already received more than 125 birthday cards – with a special message from The King also on its way from Buckingham Palace.
And she said her motto is to “look forward with hope and not backward with regret”.
“I really did not expect to get to 112 but am delighted to be here and have so much to celebrate,” Aunt Marj told Whats The Jam.
“Life is for living and it is up to you to make the most of it.
“I believe that you should do all the good that you can, by all the means that you can, in all the ways that you can, in all the places that you can, to all the people that you can, as long as ever you can.
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“Good rules to live by that are in my mind every day and if you aim to follow them you can’t go too far wrong.”
Staff and fellow residents are throwing Aunt Marj a charming tea party packed with her favourite treats.
Guests will tuck into classic triangular cucumber sandwiches on brown bread – with the crusts removed – followed by Victoria sponge, tea and even a small glass of sherry.
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Her Madeira birthday cake has been freshly baked in-house by the care home’s head chef.
After the celebrations, Aunt Marj will enjoy a round of her favourite game ‘Who Am I?’ with staff and friends.
Born in Harleston, London, before later moving to Wembley, the centenarian has lived through more than a century of history.
She met her first husband Stanley in 1939 at the Fellowship of Reconciliation and they married in 1941, later settling in Harrow after the war.
Tragically, Stanley died in 1955 – and just a year later she married his brother Hugh.
But heartbreak struck again when Hugh passed away in 1958, leaving her widowed for a second time at just 45.
The pair had moved to Sidbury in Devon, where Aunt Marj went on to work as a reception class teacher for 23 years.
She even recalls air raids during the First World War while at school – and remembers singing at the 1948 London Olympics ceremony.
Later in life, she moved to Formby to be closer to family, with her niece Maggie and great niece Katie now regular visitors.
Despite her age, Aunt Marj remains active – enjoying reading, writing poetry, painting and keeping up with current affairs.
She is also a keen rugby fan and proudly supports Exeter Chiefs.
