MARY MELLORS nee THOMPSON

£8 WAGE WAS FOR YEAR!

Teenagers today would have quite a shock to hear some of the recollections of Mrs Mary Mellors, of 3 Park Avenue,Stanley, who is celebrating her 95th birthday today. For at 14 she was "in service" at Duffield working as a kitchen maid for £8 a year. Later she moved to Breadsall getting a rise to £15 a year! "It was pretty hard in those days, but we enjoyed life - and I am now living like a lady" she said.

Mrs Mellors lives with her daughter, Mrs Bertha Disney, and is the head of five generations of her family, with five daughters and a son, 17 grandchildren, over 30 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Although there is no special party today, Mrs Mellors has two cakes and was expecting a call from most of her relatives who live nearby.

She was married 69 years ago, and her husband, Joe Mellors, a miner, died seven years ago. Mrs Mellors has lived all her life in Stanley, apart from a few years working in service in Derbyshire villages. She has been a member of Stanley Methodist Church for many years, was Womens's Own Secretary for 25 years, is the oldest member of Stanley Mother's Union and a life member of Ilkeston branch of the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations. She enjoys reading and sewing, regularly plays dominoes and whist with members if her family, and watches television only occasionally. "I'm afraid I don't approve of it - I think it is responsible for a lot of the teenager's problems these days," she says.

Mrs Mellors lived alone in a cottage on Derby Road, Stanley, until she was 91 when she grew all her own vegetables. The she and her widowed daughter moved to an old folk's bungalow in the village.

Mrs Mellors received dozens of cards, and messages of congratulations and gifts from as far away as the United States, where a relative in Ohio sent a shawl.

THRIVED ON HARD WORK......NOW 103

Miner's widow Mrs Mary Mellors, who says she has always thrived on plenty of hard work, celebrated her 103rd birthday yesterday, at Briar Close Old people's Home, Borrowash. At a party at the home in her honour, she was presented with a bouquet and a bottle of sherry by Councillor George Coleman, chairman of Derbyshire County Council, and Mrs Coleman. Also on hand to convey greetings were Councillor Cliff Moulson, chairman of the county social services committee, and Mr John Jillings, director of social services.

For many years a resident of Stanley, Mrs Mellors is now partially blind and can no longer read or crochet. She still loves music, however, and enjoys singing hymns at the home's weekly service.

Mrs Mellors heads a family of five generations. She has a sons and four daughters living, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. A life member of Ilkeston old age pensioners' branch, Mrs Mellors was for many years a member of Stanley Methodist Church. Her husband Mr Joe Mellors died 16 years ago.

(Both articles from Ilkeston Advertiser around 13th Feb 1968 and 1976 respectively)

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