A WOMAN who moved to the UK from Czechoslovakia at the age of 18 celebrated her 102nd birthday.
Marie Purcell celebrated her birthday last Tuesday at Oakleigh House, Hatch End, with a party and visits from friends and family.
Mrs Purcell moved from her native country, now the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with her sister and still speaks fluent German.
Aleesha Chowdhury, who works at the care home, said: “She is such a funny lady and has a great sense of humour.
“She is always making people laugh with her dry wit.
“The thing that gets her going most is shouting at the television when she sees something she doesn’t like, such as violence or nudity.”
Mrs Purcell met her husband, Norman, at a dance and the couple lived in Hayes for much of their lives before his death.
She enjoys reading, playing bingo, knitting her grandchildren clothes, and has one daughter, Norma, who is in her 80s, two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, who attended the celebrations.
