FOUR generations of family got together to celebrate May Slack’s 100th birthday—thankful she made it after defying cancer 11 years ago and an RAF bullet 67 years ago. It was time to put all that behind her when 60 relatives and friends turned up for Saturday’s bash’ at Bethnal Green’s Tramshed
FOUR generations of family got together to celebrate May Slack’s 100th birthday—thankful she made it after defying cancer 11 years ago and an RAF bullet 67 years ago.
May, who was born in London’s East End on May 29, 1909, when Edward VII was on the throne, had five operations when she was 89, but survived.
It was time to put all that behind her when 60 relatives and friends turned up for Saturday’s bash’ at Bethnal Green’s Tramshed community centre.
May’s daughter Mavis Meggs put together a photo montage of her mum’s life (pictured) including snaps from her wartime days when she volunteered in 1942 for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
GUN WENT OFF’
“Mum was 42 when she enlisted as an armament assistant and was shot in the leg,” Mavis revealed.
“Women weren’t taught to shoot—but a sergeant showed them on the quiet and Mum thought they were finished when a gun went off and she was hit in the leg.
“She didn’t want to get anyone into trouble, so she told the doctor she’d fallen off a bike and got gravel in her leg.”
But the big thrill for the great-grandmum was opening a letter of congratulations from the Queen at reaching her century.
Her secret for a long life? Mavis has never turned to drink, has never smoked and according to Mavis “doesn’t give up on anything.”
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