Centenarian Annie has 'big birthday' to savour

ANNIE Berwick has celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends.

Mrs Berwick was born on December 28, 1910, has lived through two World Wars and was a toddler when the Titanic sank. Rather than relishing her status as a centenarian, however, she settled on calling this her "big birthday".

Daughter Eva Drummond, 74, said: "She never wanted to know she was going to be 100. I don't think she's realised she has lived to that age. We just say 'let's call it a big birthday'. She also got a card from the Queen which I think she liked.

"My mother used to be full of one-liners and really communicative but she's feeling quite poorly now."

Nevertheless, Annie's party, held in her care home, Nazareth House in Bonnyrigg, certainly proved to be a big occasion.

All the family attended the bash with granddaughter Christina, 30, and great-grandson Evan, two, travelling from Manchester. Her sister, Cissie, 95, also attended although her brother, Tony, 89, was sadly ill in hospital.

"It was a fantastic party. It felt like a grand occasion from the moment we walked in," said Eva. "Nazareth House really pulled out all the stops for a wonderful party. It all went like clockwork from the Provost's visit to the live entertainment and then there was cake and champagne and balloons.

"Annie used to be a great dancer and she was dancing up until a few years ago in the care home. She enjoyed the party in her own way but she's been feeling rather ill for the past few weeks and now she's in a wheelchair."

Mrs Berwick was born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, with the name Ona Zabaraskas thanks to her Lithuanian roots, but everyone knew her as Annie. She was the first of seven children, five boys and two girls, with one surviving sister and one brother.

She worked in domestic service, cleaning and looking after the children of a family in Glasgow, before later working at the Middlemass biscuit factory in Newington.

In 1935, she married Johnny Berwick and the couple had three children, Eva, Mary and Joanna, who passed away at the age of 44.

The family moved to Danderhall where Johnny worked in the pits.

"Although the work was dangerous I think they just took it in their stride," said Eva. "It was just part of their livelihood really. I found it very romantic growing up that there was no electricity or running water."

Johnny died in 1968 and Mrs Berwick stayed in Danderhall where she played balls at the bowling club, belonged to the pensioners club and played whist.

She attended church at St John Vianney in Gilmerton where she is still well known.

"She's always been such a generous person," said Eva. "When she was still living in Danderhall she used to buy little gifts for her neighbours, sweets and things, and we would take them round. She never thinks of herself."