A former Royal Navy servicewoman from Oldham with fascinating tales of her younger years in the WRENS is celebrating turning 101.
Margaret Taylor, who comes from Greenacres but now lives as a resident at Franklin House care home, celebrated reaching the extraordinary milestone on Thursday (August 1) as her friends and family gathered at the home for a special party.
As the sun shone down on Franklin House, Royton Ukulele Band kicked off the celebrations, performing a raft of popular songs from the 1940s which soon had residents up and dancing in the courtyard.
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The band also played 'Happy Birthday' to Margaret Taylor, as well as Elsie Thaw, who turned 100 on Friday (August 2).
Both phenomenal women had served during World War Two with Margaret working in the Outer Hebrides in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENS) while Elsie was deployed to France where she worked as a spy for the British Army.
Speaking to The Oldham Times, Margaret was keen to share the stories of her youth and what life was like when she joined the WRENS at the age of 18.
She said she had to study and sit a series of exams in Leeds when she was just 17 in order to join the Navy, but there was no dragging her heels as she "always wanted" to join and sign up to serve her country.
Margaret then joined a naval base on the Isle of Harris, working in a logistics role which involved overseeing supplies that went aboard the Navy's ships - a role "you couldn't afford to get wrong" given the drastic consequences it would have on those serving at sea.
Her role also involved resolving any defects on ships before they set sail.
Margaret was later promoted to work in the intelligence department where she even learnt Latin and about medicines.
However, although she said it was "wonderful" to be a part of it, working in the WRENS had its tough moments.
Margaret said: "When they opened a base in Stornaway, the people didn't want us there. They would throw pebbles at us.
"Then I had appendicitis and there was no facility, so I had to be sent away to hospital.
"The captain had to give his permission because I needed an operation badly."
She said it would have been too late by the time her parents would have received the letter for permission, so the captain had to act as her guardian.
Whilst seeking treatment in the hospital, Margaret said a nurse spoke to her in 'Stornaweigan' which she didn't understand.
When she heard Gaelic spoken in the nurse's thick accent, she said: "I thought I was dead.
"Then I was told the nurse spoke like this and she had just asked me if I was feeling better."
Eventually, tensions between the WRENS and locals on the island subsided and she said her friends from every regiment gathered their chocolate rations, which gave her 'three lockers worth', to support her back to health.
She explained this was a very large amount and a huge sacrifice for people, especially those serving, to make - and it definitely helped nurse her back to help.
The Royal Airforce also had a base nearby to Margaret's regiment, which meant the two forces could meet up.
They danced, had parties and played hide and seek when they could.
Margaret added: "You could get permission to fly [in the planes] and get two extra days leave for it."
Gesturing being in the air and flying, Margaret said: "Oh it was a liberator.
"One day we went to Dundee and lay on the grass and one of the boys from the Air Force asked if he could write to me because it was nice to get letters back then."
She said sometime later she received a letter from him that all of his crew had been killed.
Margaret added: "He was the sole survivor, it's so sad.
"These things happened a lot."
Despite this, Margaret said: "I was never afraid when I was in the WRENS."
Good memories for Margaret include her 21st birthday when residents on the island worked hard to gift her 21 yards of Harris Tweed.
She said: "Nowadays, it's about 48 inches wide, but 21 was a lot back in them days and it was wonderful.
"The people who lived in shacks had to weave it from looms outside.
"The gift was beautiful, I had a jacket made from it and my sister's husband made a suit.
"You couldn't buy that today. I've still got it."
Margaret's flair for fashion and beauty even saw her win a beauty pageant when she was in the Navy - and things clearly haven't changed decades on as she wore an all-black lace dress with a pearl necklace and earrings - not forgetting her 'birthday girl' tiara - for her 101st.
In a speech to the party, Margaret commented on the "good turn out".
She said it "does my heart good" to see so many celebrate the milestone with her and shared plenty of praise for the carers and staff of Franklin House.
Margaret said: "They're here for us. I've been a terror sometimes and they've never grumbled at me.
"They are wonderful people who look after you when you're not feeling well, this is the place to come to.
"Thank you for all the carers, you can't ask for a nicer place."
She was visibly touched when the home presented her with two giant cakes - one from the staff and another in a nautical theme from her Navy pals.
She said: "You overwhelm me. I don't know what I would do without the staff."
To the Navy cake, she said: "I wish I was with you! I miss you."
After the war in 1949, Margaret tied the knot with her husband, John Taylor, at Rochdale town hall.
In 1960, the pair moved to Fitton Hill where Margaret worked in a high-class dress shop before moving to work as a dinner lady at Fitton Hill Secondary Modern School until the age of 60.
The Taylors also had two children and now Margaret is a proud mother, grandmother to one and great-grandmother to two.
John sadly passed away in 2003 after more than 54 years of marriage.
Her son, Robert, 71, said his mother had a colourful life and often looks back on her memories in the WRENS with fondness, writing poetry in her spare time.
The big birthday bash comes after Margaret was invited to the Mayor's Parlour to celebrate her 100th birthday last year in a special ceremony about her achievements.
The Royal British Legion warmly greeted the veteran at the event which brought 'tears of joy' to her eyes.
At the time, Margaret said she was "speechless" and advised people that "clean living" is the best way to live so long.
She added: "If you've got children, they're a labour of love and they make you happy.
"They give you many tears, but they also give you lots of happiness, so enjoy every moment."
When asked how she feels about turning 101, she shrugged saying, "I feel great".
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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