Lusitania survivor's daughter turns 100

Margaret Baldwin was surprised by family and friends at a special party at the Victoria Institute in Caton. The party was organised by her son Colin and wife Kath Gregson.

She has lived in Caton since 1958 and has one son, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Margaret featured in the Lancaster Guardian last year when she retold her father, William Rose’s account of surviving the Lusitania ocean liner when it sank in 1915.

William, from Lancaster, was one of 2,000 people on the Lusitania ocean liner when it was sunk by a German 
U-boat torpedo at the 
height of World War One.
Royalist Margaret was over the moon to receive her congratulatory card off the Queen for turning 100.

Kath Gregson said: “She took the party in her stride, she loved it. It wasn’t a shock but she wasn’t expecting it either, which was nice.”

At the age of 18 Margaret joined Lancaster Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (LADOS) as a chorus girl and took part in shows such as Tulip Time, Showboat and South Pacific.

Margaret continues to live independently in her bungalow where her neighbours look out for her. She does the crossword every day and is an avid watcher of TV quiz shows including Emmerdale and Coronation Street. She walks to the Co-op in the village regularly and hops on the bus to Lancaster once a week. Margaret also donates to many charities including CancerCare and North West Air Ambulance.

She will be celebrating with another party at the weekend with her family.