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‘Extremely kind and very caring’ Edna looks forward to celebrating 100th birthday over coming months Ninety-nine-year-old Edna, who has been described by her son as “extremely kind and very caring”, looks forward to celebrating her centenary birthday in just under two months’ time. Edna May Bradshaw will turn 100 on October 1 and she has lived in Northampton all of her life, having been born in Wootton in 1926. Throughout her life, Edna has lived on Collins Street, Brunswick Street and Florence Street, which is when she purchased a fruit and vegetables shop on Wellingborough Road called ‘Hygrade’. She ran the shop with the help of close family and upon retiring, she moved to Spinney Hill before finally residing in Ashurst Mews Care Home in her late nineties. Edna married Jack in July 1948 and he sadly passed away in 2005. They shared two sons, two grandsons and three great grandchildren. Edna’s eldest son John married Graham and her youngest son Richard is married to Liz. They have two sons, Steven and Mark. Steven is married to Becky and they have seven-year-old Edward. Mark is married to Emily and they have two children, 14-year-old Henry and eight-year-old Grace. Edna has a lot of fun with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she is very proud of them all. Edna began working at the Co-op at the age of 14 before she bought the fruit and vegetables shop, which she ran until retired. She belonged to the Co-op retired employees group and the Co-op is a consistent theme which has run throughout her life. The 99-year-old enjoys sport on the television, particularly cricket, and loves the Royal family. Edna was born in the same year as the late Queen Elizabeth II and she enjoys watching documentaries on them. Edna and Jack travelled extensively, including Canada and Europe, and they had a caravan which they towed all over the UK and took to France. “It’s amazing really as mum could name all the England cricketers,” son Richard told the Chronicle & Echo. “The reason she had to go into a home aged 97 was because she lost her sight. “Up until then, she managed to stay in her own home. We still ring her up and let her know when the cricket or a documentary about the Royal family are on the television. Losing her sight was a massive blow and she misses reading no end.” Despite being registered as blind, Edna is still able to enjoy what is on the television as the staff members at Ashurst Mews sit her close to the screen so she can hear exactly what is going on. Talking about the hallmarks of his mother’s personality, Richard said: “She’s extremely kind, very caring and dreads upsetting anybody. Mum and dad had a very old-fashioned type of marriage. It was dad who did all the worrying and sorting, he was in charge.” A small party is being held on Edna’s birthday and when asked if she is looking forward to the celebration, Richard shared that his mother is “extremely superstitious”. “She wouldn’t tempt fate in any way,” he said. “She’s aware we ‘re going to have an afternoon of tea and cake, and she will be pleased to see the grandchildren. She didn’t want anything else.”