Rushden woman celebrates her 100th birthday in style

Madge Clark, of Rushden, turned 100 on Friday (October 5) and celebrated with friends and family at the luncheon club at Rushden Mission Church.

The next day her family took her for another three-course meal and a canal boat ride at Stoke Bruerne, before the celebrations continued on Sunday at the church.

Mrs Clark, who was born and raised in Rushden, has only ever lived in two houses in the town.

She recalls doing the weekly shop every Friday with her mother and playing in Spencer Park as a child.

She left school at 14 and her first job paid her 10 shillings a week - about 50p.

Mrs Clark worked as a secretary, mostly notably at Strong & Fisher for about 30 years.

During the war, Mrs Clark helped to stage pantomimes for children, sending any money raised to the men from the Mission Church who were away fighting.

The shows proved to be so popular that other churches in the area asked her to stage them at their venues.

She also performed in the church’s operatic society.

She married husband Len in 1966 at the Mission Church and she remembers it being a snowy January day.

The couple honeymooned in London.

They were married for 36 years before Len’s death.

Mrs Clark has a niece Sue, a nephew John and is also close to her husband’s niece, Ruth Green.

She said: “I’ve never dieted or gone to the gym and I’ve always eaten anything and everything so there’s nothing in particular that I think is the secret to a long life.”

Mrs Clark celebrated with two friends, Joy Palmer, who turned 90 and whose birth Mrs Clark can recall, and Ena Scholes, who turned 94.