Former Oldbury school cook Phyllis celebrates 100th birthday – after beating cancer at 99
A former school cook from Oldbury who battled through cancer at 99-years-old has celebrated reaching the incredible age of 100.
Great-grandmother Phyllis Crumpton, who lives on the Brandhall Estate, was delighted to spend the day with family and friends as they turned out in their droves to Halesowen Golf Club on January 27 for a celebratory party.
The occasion was made even more poignant due to Mrs Crumpton being in hospital with cancer on her 99th birthday.
So, in lieu of presents, she asked if her friends and family could contribute to a collection for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Thanks to this, a total of £535 was raised for the charity.
Her son, Robert Crumpton, 70, said: "We had a nice buffet and everyone circulated. She had a really lovely time.
"I think there about 50 people there - including children - but we were just blown away by the generosity from different people giving money to the charity."
An eager chef, Mrs Crumpton retired from the role of chief cook at her local Perryfields High School in 1982, a job she had worked at for 12 years.
She was also believed to be one of the oldest at the time to qualify at the Halesowen Technical College when she was in her 50s - after attending to study catering course to allow her to become the head cook at the school.
Her son Mr Crumpton added: "It's amazing that she still carries on with her cooking today. She also loves everything musical and used to take part in line dancing at her local Labour club."
A keen pianist, she would often play the piano for local pantomimes put on by her school cook colleagues in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Born as Phyllis Brown, she married George Crumpton in October 1942. As well as one son she also has three grandsons Drew, 41, Matt, 38, and Nick, 31; and two great grandsons, 10-year-old Jack and eight-year-old Charlie.
