By Amy Pollock
A BANGOR woman has marked her centenary milestone surrounded by family, friends and fellow residents at Oakmont Lodge Care Home.
Grace Gordon, who lived in Ballyholme for over 40 years before moving to the nursing home in 2020, was affectionately described as ‘amazing Grace’ by her daughter, Jane Gordon.
Born Grace Bell in Crewe, Cheshire, on August 27, 1925, she grew up in many different parts of England with her father being a station master, including Wem, Shropshire, where she attended school, and Morecambe, Lancashire, where she met her husband, Bangor man Colin Gordon, at a dance.
Grace worked as a secretary at The Queens Hotel in Leeds before marrying Colin in 1949. The couple moved to Belfast, had two daughters, Jane and Ruth, and permanently settled in Bangor in 1978.
Among Grace’s many hobbies was tennis. An accomplished and passionate player, she was a member of Ward Park Tennis Club who won several tournaments and played right up until
she was 80 years-old.
Her other interests included caring for animals, horse riding, dancing, theatre and travelling, having visited Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Canada, America, Singapore and Egypt to name a few from the long list.
Her daughter Jane said celebrating her mother’s 100th birthday is an ‘amazing’ achievement.
“It’s pretty amazing, and with her name being Grace, we joke that she’s ‘amazing Grace’, just like the song,” she said.
“She just enjoyed life and all the things she loved to do.”
