why not celebrate a 100th birthday with two parties?
That’s exactly what great-great-grandmother Bessie Thompson is doing for hers.
The centenarian enjoyed a party surrounded by her family. She has 14 grandchildren, 23 great grand children and three great-great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed a party at her home, Blakewater Lodge, in Swallow Drive, Blackburn, on Thursday, while on Saturday, she had a family party at her local pub.
Bessie grew up in Darwen, one of six. She left school at 15 and later went to work in the mills as a weaver.
She married John Thompson in 1929 at St Thomas’ Church.
The pair who lived in Polly Street, Blackburn, and later in Clinton Street, had five children, Valerie, Jack, Arthur, Peter and Jim.
After working in the mills Bessie worked as a home help and then as a dinner lady at St Stephen’s primary.
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