Muriel's way to celebrate her 100th birthday

Relatives flocked from across the country to toast Muriel Morris, who also received a birthday card from the Queen and a visit from the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Maggi Clark, to celebrate her milestone birthday at Broom Lane Care Home.

And to mark Frank Sinatra’s 100th year, singer Phil Fryer was invited to perform.

Daughter-in-law Irene Yarnell said it was a far fry from her tough start to life.

“Muriel said she never thought she would reach the grand old age of 100 and this was particularly poignant as her first husband died aged only 23,” Irene said. 

“She had had a particularly difficult childbirth and the consultant paediatrician at Rotherham Hospital at the time, a Mr Ballantine, had sent for her husband to tell him he could either save his wife or his son and the reply had been to save his wife as they could always try for another baby.   

“In the event, both survived but Muriel was still in hospital and her son only two weeks old when she learnt that her husband had died of a heart attack, the shock of this news having killed him.”

After seven years she married again and had two daughters, going on to have six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Irene added: “It has been fascinating to hear of the many jobs which Muriel had, starting on the glove counter at Muntus, working for many years at Gray’s the Butchers and finishing her paid employment at various hairdressing shops in Rotherham.

“Her family have given Muriel much pleasure  over the years.”

Relatives travelled from as far and wide as the Channel Islands, Scotland and London to be with her to help celebrate her landmark day.