The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A woman who was given the middle name Peace as she was born on the day the Treaty of Versailles was signed has been celebrating her 100th birthday in style.
Vera Peace Clarke (nee Coulson) reached her century on Friday, June 28.
Born in Delgate Bank in Weston Hills, she’s lived in South Holland her whole life and had her first job working on the land in the village aged just 14.
“I started off earning five pence an hour,” she said. “I thought I was well off.
“We were brought up fit and active which was a good start.”
She also worked as an assistant cook at the Mental Hospital in Holbeach and was a home maker.
She moved to Spalding in 1981 and has lived in the Town Husbands owned almshouses on Winsover Road since then.
She’s their longest serving tenant and so they threw a special surprise party for her on Tuesday, July 2.
It followed up a surprise party Vera’s family threw for her on Saturday at Whaplode Village Hall.
She has two daughters and a son from husband Lawrence who passed away 40 years ago and she also has five grand children, five step grand children and nine great grandchildren.
“It’s all been brilliant,” she said. “I’ve had so many surprises.
“It’s nice to be spoiled.”
When asked what the secret to a long life is, she laughs: “I don’t think I should tell you that.”
