Music and a ceremonial visit help mark the occasion
Ivy Parker Celebrates Her 100th Birthday
It is not every day a personal representative of the King pays a call but today (Monday, November 3) that was exactly what happened for Ivy Parker. Celebrating her 100th birthday, Ivy had Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding James Dick OBE on her guest list.
Ivy (nee Green) also had musicians of the Salvation Army band playing at Cedar Grange residential home, in Cherry Burton, where she lives, as a nod to her past. Ivy was born in Norwich and attended the high school there.
She served in the Land Army, in the Telegraph Exchange. Ivy met Edward, who was a member of the Salvation Army, and married him in Grimsby.
The couple went on to have two children, a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, Samuel. Jennifer said her mum used to love to knit and sew.
The secret to her long life? “No drink!”
At one time, Ivy used to look after her father’s pigeons and even used to cycle into Grimsby with the racing pigeons for race meetings.
Nikki Savage, activities worker at Cedar Grange, helped to make the arrangements for Ivy’s big day. She said: “Ivy is a feisty lady, but lovely.
“We really wanted to make it a special day for her – we’re only a small home but we thought we needed to have a bit of a party. We’re going all out for Ivy, it’s not every day you are 100.”