Agile great gran about to celebrate 100th birthday

Amazingly, this agile lady from Rudheath is about to celebrate her 100th birthday!

Until two years ago, she lived on Agecroft Road, her home for 63 years, and used to enjoy riding a moped.

Granddaughter Diane Buckley, 42, from Northwich, said: "Gran is very strong. She loves playing with my daughter Christina on the floor and can get up unaided! She is very agile."

Agile Kathleen Buckley loves playing on the floor with her three-year-old granddaughter Christina

Kathleen, known as Etty because her middle name is Esther, ran the over 60s club at the Salvation Army in Northwich for more than 30 years.

With drive and energy, she inspired many people years older than herself to enjoy active, social lives as she encouraged them to visit places, make friends and support local charities.

"She organised days out and fundraising events," said Diane. "Sadly, no one was able to take it over so it closed when gran gave it up when she was 90."

Kathleen nee Hickson was born in Comberbach and grew up with eight brothers and sisters. Her family moved to Lostock.

As a young girl, she served in the Women's Land Army during the Second World War and has enjoyed an active, fulfilling life.

Kathleen Hickson, before she got married in 1941

Kathleen worked at the boreholes/brine works in Lostock, where she met her late husband Harry Buckley, who worked for Octel and was a delivery driver for Harry Mather's fruit shop.

The couple married in 1945 and had one son, Geoff.

Harry and Kathleen Buckley with their son Geoff in 1947

Harry and Geoff both played in the Salvation Army Band and Harry was proud to wear the famous uniform. Kathleen used to attend services twice a day.

Using her creative sewing skills at home, she became a dressmaker and seamstress, designing and making wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses as well as clothes for the family.

Kathleen also worked for Marcella, a ladies clothes shop in Northwich, doing their alterations.

Kathleen and her late husband Harry at the wedding of their son Geoff and daughter-in-law Christine in 1970

"She made her daughter-in-law Christine's wedding and bridesmaid's dresses," said Diane. "She was also a cake maker and made many wedding cakes and took orders for Christmas cakes.

"I can remember when I was younger we always went on holiday as a family all together with gran and grandad to places like Benidorm and Majorca," recalled Diane, who has a brother Michael.

Kathleen later worked for Heathbrook old people's home as a care supervisor for many years, doing day and night shifts, as she enjoyed looking after elderly residents.

Kathleen Buckley will be celebrating her 100th birthday with her family including her brother Harry and sister Alice

Sadly Harry died 30 years ago but Kathleen continued to be active and was always on the go.

"She didn't like not being busy," said Diane. "She had a very big garden where granddad used to grow lots of different flowers.

"She rented the allotment off to a lady after grandad died but she loved gardening and used to ride her moped up to our house and plant bulbs in our front garden.

"She didn't like staying in and used to get the bus into town every day and have fish and chips. She loves doing word searches, listening to the Salvation Army Band and following Daniel O'Donnell."

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A celebration party is being held at Essendale Care Home in Barnton, a small family-run residential home, where she now lives.

Her only surviving siblings, brother Dennis, 89, and sister Alice, in her early 90s, are coming to share her momentous birthday.