World War Two veteran forced to scale back 100th party plans

Marjorie Thomas, nee Cox, known to friends and family as 'Marge', had a big party planned with family members from South Africa and Dubai planning to travel to Headington for the celebration.

Due to the pandemic, however, the family is unable to travel to see her or even hold a small gathering in the communal lounge of Douglas Veale House, a retirement housing village, where Mrs Thomas lives.

Marge Thomas

Mrs Thomas is a mother of four, has eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Most of her grandchildren live in South Africa, and others are scattered worldwide, including in New Zealand, Dubai, and Canada.

Several family members were expected to join Mrs Thomas to celebrate her centenary, but due to the pandemic and worldwide travel restrictions, these plans have been put on hold.

Instead, Mrs Thomas will be celebrating with her daughter Lesley Haveron.

Ms Haveron said: "We could not really plan any big celebrations, except my two kids would have probably been here, but they can't be as they live abroad.

"We would have incorporated lots of friends and gone out for high tea, but we will have to postpone those celebrations for another day."

She added that she hopes that neighbours will be able to 'post cards under the door, or even wave through the window' if it does not rain too much tomorrow.

Mrs Thomas was born in Wallasey, on the Wirral, on February 19 1921 on top of her parent's Greengrocer's shop called Cox's.

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Her daughter said that 'Marge, as she is known, has had a varied and adventurous life'.

During the 1940s, Mrs Thomas joined the army to help with the war effort. She was allocated to drive ambulances in and around Liverpool.

After the second world war ended, Mrs Thomas was deployed to Padua in Northern Italy where she continued to drive army trucks and ambulances.

Her daughter said she 'can still recount many a tale about adventures there'.

Marge with family

Once she left Italy, Mrs Thomas returned to England for some years before emigrating to Australia.

The 100-year-old lived in Sydney and Brisbane during her time in Australia.

Her daughter said: "After returning to her homeland from Australia, she decided she needed the sunshine again so sailed alone with her ten-year-old daughter to the Cape Town Castle to settle in South Africa.

"We just sailed off an a lovely ocean liner. She had no friends, no family there whatsoever, a stranger in a new land.

"She got a job and that was where she met and married a South African gent, Ed Thomas, who had four children."

The war veteran has travelled the world

Mrs Thomas stayed in South Africa until her husband died in 2007, but at the young age of 86 decided she wanted to relocate again as she had 'itchy feet' so she re-located, unaccompanied back to England.

Mrs Thomas moved into Douglas Veale House and has lived there ever since.

Since moving back to the UK, she taught herself how to use a laptop so she could stay in touch with family and friends worldwide.

She also completed a fellowship with St Ebbes Church in Lime Walk.

Her daughter added: "She is a very adventurous and brave young lady indeed."

The birthday girl said: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

"Oh, and have a wee cheeky Baileys at bedtime."

Mrs Thomas will spend the day tomorrow celebrating with her daughter and a card is expected to be arriving from the Queen.

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