Burnham Copse Trefoil Guild gathers at Heath End Village Hall to celebrate 100th birthday of founding member Valerie Norris
Members of the Burnham Copse Trefoil Guild gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of its founding members.
Valerie Norris, known as Val, who lives in Bishopswood Road in Tadley, celebrated her centenary with the guild at Heath End Village Hall on Tuesday, March 5, a few days before her actual birthday on March 7.
Mrs Norris, who was born in Bow in East London in 1924, moved to Tadley in 1956 where she has lived ever since.
She said: “Last year my birthday lasted four days. This year it’s going to last a fortnight I think. It is lovely.
“I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for all the support I’ve had. Friends are so important and anything you belong to is so important.
“I have had a very happy life, I really have.”
Mrs Norris’ husband Albert died 39 years ago and still remembers him on a daily basis. “He’s still part of the house,” she said.
Mrs Norris still attends local WI meetings, Tadley Common Methodist Church and the monthly meetings of the Burnham Copse Trefoil Guild, an organisation which she helped set up 66 years ago in 1958.
The guild is a social group open to all that is primarily made up of former girlguides.
Mrs Norris was a Tawny Owl (troop leader) at 2nd Tadley Girlguides for a number of years and she was known for her knitting and tapestry skills.
One guild member remembered when Mrs Norris used to help out with her Girlguide troop.
She said: “She came and helped us make icing sugar roses once.
“She always supported us when we had campfire singing and things like that.”