Former Sheffield steelworker celebrates 100th birthday during coronavirus lockdown

May Harrison, from Darnall, celebrates her 100th birthday today during the Covid-19 lockdown alongside, four generations of her family.

While her relatives are unable to visit her due to social distancing measures, they intend to mark the milestone with phone calls, cards and waves at her window.

The life-long Sheffield woman previously held down two jobs at once, balancing her work in the steel industry where she operated the turning machine, with being a barmaid.

May’s granddaughter, Karen Lewis, 55, said she’s always had a strong work ethic.

“It’s amazing that she actually did have jobs even back in those days.

"She used to have a job that a man should have done really my nan, she was quite a hard worker.

"I just know she worked hard all her life.”

The former steelworker was born on May 1, 1920 and now has three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two great great children by her side.

May’s daughter, Beryl Gudgeon sadly passed away over two years ago.

Karen, who lives in Darnall, was previously planning on taking her grandmother out for a birthday meal, before the Covid-19 outbreak hit.

"It does make me sad that we can't celebrate with her, how we'd like to because we would have tried to organise something so we could get her somewhere”, she added.

"It's just not worth the risk for her because of her age, I do think if she got it, I really don't know if she'd survive it.

"It's just going to be not what we planned or what we wanted but we'll just have to make it as best we can for her.”

May’s granddaughter hopes to organise a belated birthday celebration once social distancing measures are lifted.

Karen shared what this special milestone means to her grandmother.

"She's one of these people, I think she thought she was never going to get to this age because her brothers and sisters before her, the longest one of them lived is 78.

"I definitely do feel proud that she's reached this age.”