Last updated at 13:20, Friday, 30 December 2011

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Haverigg’s oldest residents.

Winnie Martin, of St Luke's Road, Haverigg, with her special 100th birthday card from The Queen, on Wednesday 7th May 2008. HOWARD SHIMMIN REF:

Winnie Martin died on December 22 aged 103.

The great-great grandmother was born in Haverigg in 1908 and grew up in Caines Cottages near what is now known as Pepperhall Walk.

Mrs Martin was a devout Christian and regularly attended St Luke’s Church from the age of three up until her death.

Mrs Martin married her husband Tom in 1931.

The couple lived in Irlam, near Manchester, where Tom got a job in the steelworks and Mrs Martin worked as a primary school teacher.

The couple returned to Haverigg on their retirement in 1973.

Mrs Martin’s son, John, described his mother as a ‘lovely lady’.

He said: “She was brought up with very Victorian values and she used to speak her mind.

“She was committed to the church, she was a true Christian. She would forgive anybody and she saw the good in everybody.”

Mr Martin said long life was in the family genes as his grandmother had lived to 101.

He said: “She was well-known in the village. Well into her 90s, children from Haverigg School used to visit to hear about the village.

“Mother was involved with the Women’s Institute for 40 years and her and my dad were both passionate about the area.

“Even after they left they came back around every third weekend until they retired.”

Mr Martin said his mother a was a ‘true Christian’.

He said: “She was a lovely lady – she helped so many people and she’d always try and support local people.

“If I’m in Irlam now men my age come up to me and say I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for your mother.”

Mr Martin, an engineer who now lives in Cheshire, said his mother was a no nonsense character who insisted on a simple funeral as she didn’t want to keep anyone ‘waiting around’.

Mrs Martin was buried at St Luke’s Church in Haverigg yesterday.

She is survived by her son John, her grandchildren David, Sally and Douglas, her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

First published at 13:09, Friday, 30 December 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk