Queenie gets her 100th birthday card from the Queen (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Queenie gets her 100th birthday card from the Queen

7:10am Friday 5th October 2012 in News

A KIDDERMINSTER woman nicknamed Queenie celebrated receiving her card from the Queen for her 100th birthday.

Ethel May Thrustle marked the occasion with 20 members of her close family including her 93-year-old brother Norman at Bryden House Care Home, in Kidderminster.

Mrs Thrustle’s nickname came from her father who, after having four boys, called her my little Queenie.

One of nine children, Mrs Thrustle was born in Kidderminster and used to work in Brintons Carpets’ stamping room.

She got married in May 1940 and spent the war years working while her husband was away in Burma.

Her son Alan, 63 said: “She’s always been very family orientated. It wasn’t the done thing for wives of teachers to be working so she stopped to look after me and kept the house a home while my father worked.”

Mrs Thrustle was a keen tennis and hockey player as well as enjoying ballroom dancing and gardening.

Her family know her for the parties she used to throw her son Alan and the cakes she made to celebrate his birthdays.

Alan added: “My wife and I would like to thank and show our appreciation to the staff, past and present, at Bryden House who have helped to contribute to her longevity.”