Catherine McKinnell celebrates Peggy Weightman 100th birthdayNewcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, visited Rosewood Villa Residential Home in Throckley earlier this week (7th April) to join in with 100th birthday celebrations for resident, Mrs Peggy Weightman.

Rosewood Villa has organised events stretching over a week to mark the soon-to-be centenarian’s birthday which falls on 10th April, including a coffee morning for Peggy’s friends, family and former neighbours on Monday.

Mrs Weightman, who is a great great grandmother, lives at the home with her 94-year old sister, Ada Ford, having both been born and educated in Throckley, and living there for all of their adult lives.  

Catherine helped to organise some of the special events planned for Peggy’s birthday celebrations, including arranging for a giant, customised Kit Kat to be made at the Nestlé factory in York, and for ‘goody bags’ to be provided by Nestlé’s Fawdon factory for the official birthday party, to be attended by the Lord Mayor, on 10th April – as Mrs Weightman is a renowned ‘chocoholic’. Peggy – who has never been on an aeroplane before – will also be paying a visit to Newcastle Airport, as well taking a flight on a light aircraft from Belford Airfield.

Catherine said:

‘It was such a privilege to spend time with Mrs Weightman and her family and friends this week at Rosewood Villa for these very special birthday celebrations. The home has real roots in the local community, and it’s quite amazing to think that Peggy has spent her whole life in Throckley.  It’s fantastic that she has spent time with Throckley Primary pupils to share her experiences over the last century – and indeed that they took the time and trouble to make lots of beautiful birthday cards for her.

‘It’s also incredibly heartening to know that you can be a chocoholic and get to the age of one hundred!’

Rosewood Villa owner, Mary Watson, said:

 ‘Peggy is our 3rd centenarian at Rosewood in the 26 years we have been here. 

‘It has been very exciting arranging lots of lovely surprises for Peggy to celebrate a milestone birthday. When I asked Peggy what she would like for her birthday, and if she would like to do anything special, she said simply ‘chocolate’ and that she had never been on a plane and would like to try…even though she would be scared!

‘We would like to say a big thank you to Catherine for arranging the chocolate surprise with Nestlé and a lovely afternoon tea for two at Fenwick, Nestlé for also sending us 100 goodie bags for 100 years, Gormans in Westerhope for providing Peggy’s favourite lunch for her and all of our residents on the big day, and Storm Smith for arranging Peggy’s first ever flight from Belford Airfield – as well as Throckley Primary School and Warburtons in Newburn.’

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