A Hull woman has received her birthday card from the King after reaching the milestone age of 100 years old. Edna Pinder, born and raised in east Hull, celebrated with her family on August 3 at Alexandra Court Care Centre in Southcoates Lane.
Growing up in the city, she went to Craven Street School and later worked in a factory that made pickled beetroot and other pickled vegetables. She recalled her brothers worked on the trawlers.
During the Second World War, Edna was involved in helping people whose houses had been bombed. Their own family home was also bombed – luckily they were out at the pictures at the time.
Later on, Edna lied about her age so she could join the Women’s Territorial Army, also known as the Auxiliary Territorial Service. When Berlin was captured by the Allies, Edna went to work in a hospital in the German city.
Edna recalled that she bore no ill will towards the Germans and “everyone was really nice”. When she had a misadventure and fell into a river, Edna said she was rescued by a German man who was awarded a medal by the mayor.
In 1947, Edna met her future husband Walter Pinder at The Burlington pub in Hull. The following year, they were married, and in 1950 they welcomed their first child David, followed by June and Stephen.
Edna’s son David said: “After the war, she came back to England and met my father. Of course, I was born and it was normal in those days the women didn’t keep on working.
“She started again when we were old enough to go to school. She has been independent her whole life, until the last few years. I think she was quite proud of all of us. We all worked and we all achieved, and that was what she was most proud about.”
As part of the birthday celebrations, Edna had her favourite meal, fish and chips, which were from Pollards Plaice, and a custom birthday cake, while her favourite Barry Manilow track ‘I Write All The Songs’ was played, and impressive 100th birthday balloon decorations were created free of charge by Martine Milsom.