A BANGOR resident has celebrated her 100th birthday.
Sarah Elizabeth Fleming, known by everyone as Lily, is a resident at Tughan Court and marked her momentous birthday on Sunday.
Sarah was born in Londonderry in 1926, two days before Queen Elizabeth, and was the middle child of three siblings.
Her older brother Robert Long has passed away while her younger sister Isabel will turn 93 in May.
The family moved to Grove Street in East Belfast in the late 1930s for work.
Throughout her life she worked through various jobs including at a laundrettes, at Gallaher’s tobacco factory and finally in the Civil Service in Belfast.
She married Horace Fleming and the couple became deeply involved with Westbourne Presbyterian Church, where they became pillars of the church community.
Even after Lily moved to Bangor in the 1990s, she continued to travel to Westbourne. After Horace’s death, she learned to drive for in her late 70s to continue her travels to the church on Sundays as well as volunteering at its lunch clubs.
Through her siblings she has 11 nieces and nephews, 12 great-nieces and nephews, is a great-great aunt to 21 and is great-great-great aunt to two.
Her nephew Peter Lavery said his aunt is ‘great craic’, adding that ‘everyone who meets her absolutely loves her to bits’.
“She’s always got a big smile on her face and she’s always got a wee joke if you ask her. Everyone loves Lily,” he said.
“If you asked her what the secret to her longevity is, she would most likely say her faith.”
She received congratulations from Irish President Catherine Connolly and a card from Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla
