Far-flung family reunited at 100th (From Oxford Mail)

Far-flung family reunited at 100th

1:00pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News

Two sisters travelled from Down Under to help their mum celebrate her 100th birthday in Oxford.

Mary Keating was visited by family for a party at Townsend House in Headington.

Her daughter Janet came all the way from Australia, while her other daughter Maureen came from New Zealand to celebrate with 46 residents as she received a telegram from the Queen.

Mrs Keating said she had a strict upbringing from her father, a captain in the Royal Engineers, and it helped her overcome hardship during the Second World War.

Her family was bombed out and forced to leave home in London to move to a condemned house in Addingrove just outside Oakley, with no water, power or sanitation.

There Mrs Keating looked after her four children – Peter, John, Janet and Maureen – while her husband Eddie worked at Northolt Airport.

Mr Keating died in 1964. Mrs Keating lived in Sun Crescent, Oakley, for 43 years, before moving to Townsend House in March 2010.

She said: “I had a wonderful time and I really appreciate everyone being here to celebrate my 100th birthday.”