A woman from Hoddlesden, who survived the second world war and other major life events in the last century, is celebrating er 100th birthday today (July 22).
Rachael Yarham is celebrating with friends and family at Birch Hall Care Centre in Darwen, where a party is taking place.
The former St. Paul’s Primary School pupil said she cannot believe she has reached this milestone.
She said: “I am looking forward to my birthday. I never thought I would reach 100.
“I am having a party at Birch Hall Care Centre on Saturday, with entertainment. Staff and friends will be coming present.
“On Sunday I am going to Astley Bank Hotel for a meal and around 20 people will be coming.”
She says the secret to a long life is prayers and being kind.
She said: “I say my prayers every night. I try to help people, do good in life and avoid doing anything wrong.”
Rachael is the oldest of five, with three brothers and two sister. She has a daughter, Janet, as well as three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
After leaving school aged 14, Rachael worked as a weaver at mills across Lancashire, including Hollins Grove Mill.
She also worked at a cake shop, at Darwen’s Woolworths and ran a bingo club until she retired.
At the weekend she used to enjoy concerts at the Olympia cinema in Darwen. Rachael now enjoys knitting and sewing, crocheting, and reading or watching tennis.
She married her husband, Arthur Yarham, on October 2, 1946, and they they lived in Great Yarmouth for time before moving back to Darwen.
When war broke out, Rachael was eager to help with the efforts but was told she was needed to work as a weaver.
She volunteered as for the ARP (air raid precautions), who managed the air raid sirens and ensured people were directed to shelters.
She checked gas masks and told people to turn lights out when danger was near.
He husband was in the army and was sent to Japan to fight.
Rachael was told that her husband was ‘missing in action’ and did not hear from him in three-and-a-half-years.
In a happy turn of events, one day she got a letter saying he had been found alive and was in hospital.
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