A PARTY was held at a local care
home on Friday to celebrate a
Kilkeel woman’s 100th birthday.
Annie Morris, a resident of Brooklands Care
Home in Kilkeel, was pleased to mark the
occasion with visits from many family members
and friends.
Annie’s daughter Bobbie Thomas and her
husband Derek made the trip over from Norfolk
in England for the party.
“I actually had the pleasure of cutting the
birthday cake,” Bobbie said.
Others in attendance to visit Annie that day
included her cousins Dorothy, Lorna and Hazel,
other extended family members and a number of
Annie’s friends from Kilkeel Presbyterian
Church, where she has been a lifelong member.
Annie also enjoyed a visit from Kilkeel
Presbyterian Church’s minister, the Rev Stephen
Johnston, and his wife Ruth, as well as from the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s moderator, the
Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney and his wife Karen.
Local MLA Diane Forsythe also attended the
party for Annie, which she said was ‘a beautiful
afternoon’ which included the singing of some of
Annie’s favourite hymns.
‘Happy 100th birthday to the lovely Annie
Morris. It was an honour to be invited up to
Brooklands Care Home, Kilkeel to join in the
celebration of this special milestone,’ she said in
a Facebook post, adding that it was ‘a very
special day for a special lady’.
Annie also received a card from King Charles
wishing her a very happy birthday.
Life in Kilkeel….
Annie was born and raised in Kilkeel, where
she has lived her entire life.
Although she enjoyed travelling around the
world, she always returned to her hometown.
“No matter where she visited, nowhere was
like Kilkeel,” Bobbie said.
During Annie’s travels, she enjoyed going to
many different countries, including Spain,
Greece, Germany, Canada and the United States.
“She certainly got around,” Bobbie said.
While on these trips, Annie enjoyed getting to
reconnect with friends and family living in other
parts of the world.
In addition to her daughter Bobbie in England,
Annie’s son Allan lives in California, USA, while
her grandson Elwyn resides in Canada and
another grandson, Elijah, lives in Texas, USA.
Annie’s granddaughter Amanda sadly
predeceased her.
Growing up as part of a big family in Kilkeel,
Annie attended her local primary school.
As an adult, she raised her children and also
worked at McConnell’s baby shop in Kilkeel for
about a quarter of a century.
“She worked there until she was 60,” Bobbie
said.
Annie was always an active member of Kilkeel
Presbyterian Church and was involved in many
activities within the church, including the
Presbyterian Women’s group.
“Her life was the church,” Bobbie said.
She said that her mother always likes to keep
active and still enjoys taking walks around her
care home.
“She was always on the go,” Bobbie said.
Annie’s longevity is something she shares with
other family members. Her brother Bobby lived
to the age of 106 and her sister Myra is due to
celebrate her 102nd birthday next month.
