A Penrith woman for whom faith and good friendships have been a great support has celebrated her 100th birthday.
Winifred Little, known as Win, was born in Patterdale and attended the village school before starting working life as an assistant at the local post office.
In 1938, when she was 15 years old, the family moved to Penrith, into a newly-built house where Win has lived ever since.
She landed a job at the Penrith Co-operative Society, where she worked in the office from 1939 to 1953. It was during this time that Win met her future husband, John, who also worked at the Co-op as a grocer.
John was called up to serve on a supply ship with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and was deployed from 1941 to the end of the war, in 1945.
During a brief period of leave in 1944, John and Win were married at Penrith’s St Andrew’s Church. With the war in full spate, and the future unknown, they were one of five couples who tied the knot on the same day at St Andrew’s.
At the end of the war, John returned to Penrith and his work at the Co-op, eventually becoming the store’s grocery manager until his retirement at the age of 65.
Win continued to work with him until 1953, when she felt ready for a change, and took up a position in administration with Cumbria Constabulary.
Her new job was part of a wider move within policing to shift administrative work away from police officers, freeing them up to do more active service in communities.
Living not far from Carleton Hall, where she was stationed, Win at first walked to work, later graduating on to a bicycle and, eventually, to a car.
She went on to serve 27 years as a civilian worker with the police, which she thoroughly enjoyed. During that time she saw many officers being their careers in policing, and developed lasting friendships.
Outside work, Win and John were deeply involved in the life of Penrith’s Christ Church, where John sang in the choir man and boy for 86 years.
He also served on the Parochial Church Council and as a churchwarden, always with Win by his side, equally involved.
Win was also one of the original members of the Penrith Tuesday Club and an early member of Penrith Music Club.
Music has been a central part of Win’s life, and this was a love she shared with John. The pair had close and long-lasting friendships in Penrith and beyond.
Since John’s death in 2015 at the age of 94, Win has been buoyed up by her strong Christian faith, and the support of a wonderful carer and a close friend.
She celebrated her 100th birthday with some with nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces, at a special meal at Bojangles Cafe Bistro, Appleby.
She was also pleased to receive a visit from David Drinkald, chairman of the Cumbria branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.
