Feilding Nonagenarian

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 3

Feilding Nonagenarian

MRS. S. TU.NNICLIFFE CELEBRATES. 95th ANNIVERSARY Yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. Neil, Giesen’s Road, Feilding, many congratulatory’ messages and felicitations were showered upon Mrs. tSarah Tunnicliffe, widow of tfio late Joseph Tunnicliffe, on the occasion of her 95th birthday. Born at Wakefield, Nelson, in 1544, Mrs. Tunnicliffe is the daughter of the late Mr. John Norris, who was in the employ of Sir Edward Stafford, she and her late husband came to Feilding in 1902, where, during a long residence, they established a host of life-long friendships. She obtained her education at the first school in the Nelson district, Mr. John Thomas Smith being the headmaster, who was later

succeeded by Mr. Squire. Losing hei mother at the age of 14, Mrs. Tunnicliffc w r as called upon to keep house for her father and family. Marrying at the age of 21 years, Mrs. Tunnicliffe celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary in 1930, a lengthy span of married happiness being broken by tho death of her husband two years later, at the advanced age of 94 years. Accustomed to hard work all her life, Mrs. Tunnicliffe has retained her faculties to a remarkable degree and enjoys perfect health, and is a staunch adherent of ( tho Methodist calling. Besides a family of seven adults, Mrs. Tunnicliffe lias 43 grandchildren and 62 great-grand-children. Her sons are Messrs. H. S. Tunnicliffe (Waimiha), William Tunnicliffe (Auckland), Owen Tunnicliffe (Rotorua), and her daughters are Mesdames O. Button (Nelson), W. Brown (Masterton), J. Noble (Feilding) and A. Neil (Feilding). In view of this great achievement in Mrs. Tunnicliffe’s life, arrangements were mado for a family re-union to mark the event and many indeed were the friends and •wellwishers who called to extend their con* gratulations to this remarkable old lady. This week-end members of the family will gather at Mrs. Neil’s to honour the birthday of mother and grand-parent.