Bouncing her way to 100!

A greeting from The Queen and a first ever go on a bouncy castle – now there’s a recipe for a day to remember

Mary Murphy celebrated her 100th birthday in super style surrounded by family members, including daughters who had travelled from Perth in Australia to be part of the festivities.

The Irish-born mother-of -four, grandmother-of-four and great-grandmother-of seven – soon to be eight with a baby on the way soon – belied her years by aiming for the bouncy castle as soon as she saw it set up for her youngest relatives at party held at her St Annes home.

Son Frank said: “Mum couldn’t resist. The bouncy castle was there for her great-grandchildren to enjoy but we saw her looking at it enviously. I can’t imagine she had ever been on one before but she is so young at heart – I put it down to the Irish farming stock she comes from.

“Mum rode a bike until she was 84 – in the end, we had to hide it to discourage her as she was becoming a hazard to other road users. We don’t think she has ever forgiven us!”

Mary, who worked for many years at Cooksons bakery in Lytham and later in a number of local cafes, originates from County Galway in the West of Ireland and was married to her late husband John for almost 50 years up to his death in 1988.

The couple settled in Fylde in the 1960s when John was demobilised to the former RAF transit camp at Warton.

Mary now lives with daughter Pat, while Frank is based in Lytham and daughters Joan and Gaye in Scotland and Australia respectively.

Frank added: “Mum had a wonderful day.

“It began with the message from the Queen being delivered, a visit from the deputy mayor of Fylde and three generations of relatives there to join in the celebrations – the bouncy castle was a bonus!”