Gladys celebrates 105 years

Former Sunday school teacher and leader of the junior Boys’ Brigade, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of thirteen, Gladys May Wedgeworth (née Waite), celebrated her 105th birthday at Rastrick Hall & Grange care home in May. Surrounded by her family, who entertained her with musical performances, Gladys was persuaded to recite a poem she learned when she was ten years old. Her daughter commented, “Staff went all out to make her special day so enjoyable. Nothing was too much trouble.” The youngest member of her family, she was born in Little Horton, Bradford and lived there with her parents, elder brother (who fought in the First World War) and five sisters. All the family were active members of Horton Moravian Church, Bradford and Gladys was christened, confirmed and married there. The church was the centre of her social activities. As well as attending church and Sunday school each week, she took part in concerts and plays. For many years she was leader of the junior section of the Boys’ Brigade and Sunday school teacher, as well as being a member of the choir and various women’s groups. Gladys was a regular worshipper for more than 100 years and read the lesson on the occasion of the 175th Church Anniversary in March 2013. In December 2013, she took up residence in Rastrick Hall Care Home. During her long life, Gladys has lived through two World Wars, the Russian Revolution, twenty prime ministers and the reign of four monarchs. When she was a young girl, only the aristocracy owned motor cars and she was born before commercial flights began. She was 11 when the BBC was created. The formation of the NHS and the first man on the moon are just a few achievements that have taken place in her 105 years. Rumour has it that she is planning to buy a mobile telephone…