AN INDEPENDENT centenarian was given a surprise birthday visit from members of staff at her local supermarket.
Marjorie Parry, who is a regular shopper at Tesco in Springfield Road, Chelmsford, turned the grand old age of 100 last month.
To celebrate her century, Tesco pharmacy manager Victoria Akomolafe and her colleague Leia Rushen, arrived at Mrs Parry's home in Boswells Drive with a birthday present.
Victoria said: "She's one of my customers at Tesco and we thought it was a significant birthday so we went round to present her with a gift and flowers. She's a regular customer of ours so that was just to show we care."
Staff originally planned to make a grand announcement over the tannoy for when Mrs Parry came to visit, but she was unwell on the day.
"Unfortunately, that day she couldn't come in so we went to her house to rejoice instead," said Victoria.
Mrs Parry said: "It was very kind of them. It was a nice surprise – I always go there with Gillian in a push chair and I get a lottery every week. I haven't won it yet but I got £20 the other week."
Mrs Parry, who now lives with her daughter Gillian, also had a big family celebration on her birthday.
"Every relation I have got except for the ones in America were there," said the former secretary.
"We had it at the Two Brewers and some of them had never even seen the others before. It was lovely."
With three children, six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, Mrs Parry has to find ways of ensuring she can remember her relations' names.
"I write their names down on the first of January when I get a new calendar so I can remember them all," she said.
Born in Tring, Hertfordshire, in 1912, Mrs Parry married her second husband, Ceri, in 1969 and they spent 40 happy years together in Bangor, Wales.
"I always remember my second wedding was in a registry office and the registrar turned up and he had got a shocking cold and a bad temper," she said.
"He started off by pulling open the door behind him and lots of brushes and brooms fell out. He got over that and then he got a little bit into the service and the door into the street burst open and the man said he wanted to register a death. I said to my husband afterwards, I didn't know if we were married or not."
But when Ceri died, Mrs Parry's family asked her to move from Bangor back to Essex.
"I loved living in Bangor and I am an independent lady, but they kept on and on at me so eventually I agreed," she said.
"But you find ways of getting your own way," she added with a grin.
Now Mrs Parry, who used to love golf, enjoys reading historical books and watching antiques programmes.
"I played golf for 40 years," she said. "I think it's wonderful because it's not like tennis – the ball just sits and waits for you, although I have got a bit fed up of watching it because there are so many youngsters. I can't remember their names."
And while all things historical keep her entertained, Mrs Parry does not believe there is any secret to her longevity.
"I just get up in the morning and here I am," she said.
