NONAGENARIAN’S BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27504, 11 November 1954, Page 2

NONAGENARIAN’S BIRTHDAY

MRS M. A. PYCROFT, OF OPAWA

Mrs M. A. Pycroft, of 20 Reeves road, Opawa, will celebrate her ninety-second birthday today. She was born in Yorkshire in 1862, and at the age of three years went to live at Teddington, 12 miles from London. She came to New Zealand with her parents and sisters and brothers in 1873 in the sailing ship Rakaia, of less than 1000 tons. She attended the Opawa School and was the oldest former pupil to attend the school’s jubilee celebrations several years ago. For the last 47 years she has lived within a quarter of a mile of her first New Zealand home. In 1883, she married Mr James Pycroft. Before her husband’s death they celebrated the sixty-seventh anniversary of their wedding. Mrs Pycroft has twice visited the United Kingdom. Her second voyage was in 1931. Until recently she has been able to enjoy reading. She still assists her only daughter in their home, goes out for drives, and visits friends. She often tells young people about the growth of th? district she has known for 81 years.

Those who passed in Karitane training examinations held in Christchurch in September were:—A. Anderson, B. Atkinson, J. Brownlee, J. Christie, J. Gardiner, J. Harding, B. Johns, R. Lawrence, R. Nicol, J. Oakley, J. Ryburn, and S. Wood.