TILNEY ST LAWRENCE: 100-up for Blitz survivor Florence

Florence Collins, centre, receives her 100th birthday celebration cake from care assistants Angie Bligh, left, and Margariti Montgomery at Burman House in Terrington St John Picture: PAUL TIBBS MLNF12PT12252 www.lynnnews.co.uk/buyaphoto

Published on 02/01/2013 09:32

A woman who came to live in Norfolk by chance after her London home was destroyed during the Blitz celebrated her 100th birthday shortly before Christmas.

In World War II, Florence Collins was living at Stratford in the capital when she emerged from an air raid shelter to find her home had been demolished in the bombing.

With her husband away serving in the Army, Mrs Collins was evacuated with her baby son, William, to Terrington St John and the family remained in the Marshland area after the war, moving to Tilney St Lawrence.

Daughter Patricia was born in 1946 and Mr Collins found work making chemical sprays for farmers before later joining the Metal Box company at Wisbech, where he was employed for many years.

Mrs Collins also got a full-time job in Wisbech with Smedley’s tinned food, from whom she still receives a small pension.

William and his sister went to Terrington St John Primary School then Terrington St Clement Secondary Modern School.

William, 71, is still living in Tilney St Lawrence, at Westfields, and his sister, Patricia Parson, 66, now lives in Norwich.

Mrs Collins lost her husband to cancer several years ago. She has been living at Burman House residential care home in Mill Road, Terrington St John, for about the last four years.

Her son said: “Mum is a West Ham supporter. She has her daily newspaper and does the crosswords and has still got it all about her.

“The nice staff at the home also look after her.”

Mrs Collins had a celebration party at Burman House on December 16, three days after her 100th birthday, so that most of her family could be there. She has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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TILNEY ST LAWRENCE: 100-up for Blitz survivor Florence

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