Five generations help Ira celebrate 100th birthday
Released: 19 September 2007
Five generations helped a sprightly great-great-great grandfather mark his 100th birthday this week.
Around 20 members of Ira Parsonage’s extended family joined in the celebrations at Wolverhampton City Council’s Nelson Mandela House residential home yesterday, Tuesday 18 September.
The guests included some of his 21 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, 36 great-great grandchildren and two great-great-great grandchildren.
“He was overwhelmed - there were tears,” said Kathleen Smith, Assistant Residential Care Manager.
“His relatives brought champagne and we had wine and nibbles; it was almost like a wedding because we took photos of him cutting the cake in front of his extended family.
“He is very popular with everyone here at Nelson Mandela House and the other residents joined in to sing Happy Birthday to him.”
Ira received a telegram from the Queen and was congratulated by Wolverhampton Mayor, Councillor Trudy Bowen, who extended an invitation to service users to visit her parlour for afternoon tea.
Though Ira, who was born on September 18, 1907, did not have children of his own, he acquired a whole new family tree through his marriage to Sarah Ann in 1947.
Ira, who has lived at Nelson Mandela House since March, worked at Black Country boilers-to-vehicle parts manufacturer John Thompson’s for more than 50 years.
After he retired, Ira did casual work for a local builder before tending people's gardens, which he continued up to the grand old age of 94.
He puts his long and happy life down to keeping himself active and not allowing himself to get worried about anything.
Black Country born-and-bred, he lived in Coseley until his marriage when the couple moved to Wolverhampton. He and Sarah Ann were happily married until she sadly passed away in 1987.
Issued by the press office.