Double century

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 1

Double century

D.I.C. Beaths’ centennial birthday cake being cut yesterday by the firm’s oldest former employee, Miss Mary Clougher (left), and Miss Win White, who was also celebrating her onehundredth birthday. One layer of the 57kg cake was cut for morning tea at Nazareth House, where Miss White has lived for about 10 years. Miss Clougher, aged 94, was given another layer to take back to Jubilee House. To top the celebrations off, it was discovered that Miss White was also a shareholder in the company — probably its oldest. The cake has been on display in D.I.C. Beaths’ City Mail Store for two weeks. The store manager, Mr Harvey Bray, said the company had a birthday cake every year and tried to find someone celebrating a birthday to cut it. Miss Clougher, who

worked as a dressmaker for Beaths from 1933 to 1966, said it was a surprise and a “great thrill” to help the company mark its one-hun-dreth year of trading. She said it was always a good firm to work for and she had been very happy there. Miss White said she had “never seen such a fuss” but it had been marvellous. Longevity must run in her family as her sister, Mrs Madge Brocherie, aged 89, of Christchurch, was with her yesterday to help celebrate her centenary, and her brother Gerald, aged 92, had travelled from Auckland for a family reunion last Sunday.