AN Islander celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend with family and friends from across the globe – as well as some VIP guests.
Catherine Le Long said it was “very nice” of the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd and his wife, Dr Karen Kyd, to have paid her a visit on Saturday to help mark the special occasion.
And some of her family members travelled from very far away – including Thailand and Australia – to join the celebrations.
“I’ve been very lucky really, with a good family and good neighbours and doing everything myself, I’m quite happy,” she told the JEP.
Originally from Liverpool, Mrs Le Long spent time living in Jersey during her younger years – and briefly went to school here – but returned to the UK before the Second World War.
She worked in a munitions factory, where her job was to put the detonators in the bombs.
She recalled that, having not had to go in one night, she discovered upon her return to work the next day that the factory had been bombed and destroyed.
“But when you’re in munitions you don’t think it’s dangerous. When you’re young you don’t fear anything. We were singing away and playing around with the detonators,” she said.
“You get searched before you go in, no pins, no brooches, nothing sharp.
“One lady was searched and she had a dead matchstick in the lining of a coat she had bought at a jumble sale. She was sacked on the spot.
“They were so careful – they had to be.”
She married her late husband, Ken, in St Mary and St Peter’s church in 1948 and later returned to live in the Island in 1964.
“I love it [here]. I’ve been here quite a while now.”
Her 100th birthday also saw her receive a special card signed by King Charles III.
Commenting on the Lieutenant-Governor’s visit on Saturday, she said: “It was very nice of him to do that.”
