Mrs Annie McCubbine

“From one centenarian to another” read a telegram sent to Mrs Annie McCubbine, of Northam, last week when she celebrated her 100th birthday.

The telegram was from Mrs McCubbine’s home town newspaper The Croydon Advertiser which is also celebrating its centenary. Sitting in an armchair, as alert and witty as a woman years her junior, Mrs McCubbine chatted to a Bideford Gazette reporter and proudly displayed other telegrams from the Queen, Gracie Fields and Mr Richard Crossman, Secretary of State for Social Security. Congratulations also came from singer Cilla Black during her TV show last week. Earlier the same day the chairman of Northam Council, Mr George Northcott, and his wife paid a visit, bringing the congratulations and good wishes of the Urban District.

To celebrate her birthday Mrs McCubbine as entertained to dinner by 15 of her family at Yeoldon Hotel, Northam, where another present awaited her from Mr and Mrs Mansell of Yeolden. It was the first 100th birthday party at the hotel.

Of her six children, four survive – Frank, Lilian, Charles and Anne. There are six grandchildren – Sylvia, Malcolm, Janet, Delphine, Warwick and Julian; and eight great-grandchildren – Alison, Michael, Christine, Alan, Colin, Ian, Adrian and Delia. Delphine was expected to present her ninth great-grandchild any day. Mrs McCubbine lives with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs L F West, with whom she lives at 29 Cleveland Park.

Gazette article dated 14 February 1969