Socially-distanced party held to make Sheffield woman's 100th birthday extra special

A special birthday celebration was held on Friday to mark the centenary of a "strong, determined and kind" Sheffield woman who enjoys fishing and worked as a butcher.
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Evelyn Jackson, whose middle name is "May," was born on May 1, 1920, in a house on Suffolk Road.

The company that cares for her organised a socially-distanced party outside her bungalow in Killamarsh, with banners, balloons and singing.

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Julie Allen, manager of Sarah Care Ltd, said: "Her daughter had previously arranged a party in order to celebrate this wonderful milestone but unfortunately with the Covid-19 situation this has had to be cancelled.

"I thought it would be wonderful for Evelyn, her family and others in the community to see such a strong, funny lady celebrating her centenary birthday."

Evelyn, whose maiden name is Heron, had two brothers and married her husband Tom in 1939, at St Mary's church.

At first the couple lived with her parents, who had moved to Sharrow Vale Road after their first home was bombed during WWII.

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Her daughter Wendy Sarjeant said Evelyn worked in a shoe shop after leaving school, and became a trained butcher in 1952, after she had Wendy and her brother Barry.

"My mum was very ambitious," said Wendy, 72. "She always wanted to own her own house. My dad never did. She told him when his factory moved, they were moving.

"They bought a new house on Richmond Park Road, in 1954 and my dad was happy as Larry, because he could just walk to work."

As well practising an unusual profession for a woman, Evelyn liked accompanying her husband when he went fishing.

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"I think her idea was 'If you can't beat them, join them.'" said Wendy. "So when my dad disappeared fishing, she and her brother Clive went with him.

"We used to go on holiday to the Norfolk Broads. I was never on the beach - I was on the river bank, putting maggots on hooks!"

After she left the butcher's shop in 1970, Evelyn worked for Remploy until her retirement at the age of 61.

Her husband Tom died in 1998 and she lived on Richmond Park Road until she was 92, before moving to Killamarsh, to be nearer to Wendy.

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Manager Julie added: "The carers have been absolutely fantastic. It's just a celebration all round and a thank you to our staff."

The company, which employs around 70 carers, has always supplied gloves, aprons and hand sanitisers - but recent shortages have forced them to pay "astronomical prices" for vital PPE (personal protective equipment)

Julie added: "I can't fault Derbyshire County Council and Sheffield City Council. They have provided us with some PPE for service users.

"We have got to protect them to protect the clients. We have not once gone without. As a company we have worked really hard to get some stock in."

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