Black Country girl Olive celebrates 106th birthday
A Black Country woman who survived two world wars has celebrated another landmark birthday with friends and a slice of cake.
Olive Saunders was joined by her son Derrick as well as residents and staff of Harden Hall Care Home in Walsall as she celebrated her 106th birthday.
Mrs Saunders was born in 1914 in Essex Street, Walsall, going to school at North Walsall School and Blue Coat School before starting work in the leather trade.
She made ‘fancy leather’ such as wallets and dog collars for factories such as Whitehouse Cox & Co, taking a break in the 1960s to work as a dinner lady at RC Thomas School.
In 1936 she had married builder Harold Saunders – who had the same last name – and went on to have two sons, Philip in 1937 and Derrick in 1944 all living in Bloxwich Road, before the pair divorced in 1958.
Mrs Saunders lived in Leamore until she was 97, before moving into Harden Hall as one of the first residents in 2012.
Despite restrictions around Covid-19, her son Derrick was able to join her to give her the card from the Queen and spoke about some of her favourite things.
He said: "Mum loved dancing, and going on holiday with family and friends to Cornwall and Blackpool and she never went abroad.
"She has always been a quiet person who loves company and is always smiling and she loves her food especially cakes and a cup of tea.
"Unfortunately, due to the current climate, I haven't been able to see much of mum this year, which is very hard for us, but it's been nice to see her for a bit today."
