Queenie, 100, hopes to beat mum's record

SHE may have reached the grand old age of 100 '“ an impressive milestone in its own right '“ but this former Littlehampton woman still has a way to go to beat her mother's three-figure record.
Queenie Nunns celebrating her 100th birthday over the weekend                L16123H13Queenie Nunns celebrating her 100th birthday over the weekend                L16123H13
Queenie Nunns celebrating her 100th birthday over the weekend L16123H13

Queenie Nunns became her family’s second centenarian on Saturday (April 13), following in the footsteps of her late mother, who lived to be 108.

And it’s a record Queenie is determined she will surpass.

The secret, you may ask? A cocktail of good family life, a fantastic sense of humour and a daily tipple of the best bottle of brandy money can buy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Queenie, who used to live in Bayford Road, Littlehampton, and Grand Avenue, Wick, celebrated her special day at the home of her daughter Kathy, where she now lives, in Cissbury Road, Ferring.

Kathy said that her mother was a real character, at the heart of the family. She added that Queenie had also overcome a lot of adversity throughout her life.

“Mum had a tough early life, but she has gone on to have had much enjoyment and fun.

“She has a great sense of humour and still has such a wonderful memory for even the smallest details, and hardly a grey hair on her head,” said Kathy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added: “Her mother lived until she was 108 so we could have mum around for a while yet!”

Early life

Queenie was born on April 13, 1913, in Brighton and was one of five children growing up.

She lived through the horrors of two world wars, and worked as a housekeeper in and around the Brighton area, when she was younger.

Her parents were friends of theatre legends, Norman Wisdom and Max Miller, said Kathy. However, Queenie never really got to know the theatrical duo.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She met her first husband, Glyn Griffiths, in 1933 – he was from a Welsh mining family.

During their time together, Queenie supported Glyn as he joined those taking part in the historic 300-mile Jarrow to London march, in 1936, which became a symbol of the extreme poverty suffered by the unemployed, nationwide, during this period.

The couple had three children, Ceinwen, Kathy and Barbara.

After the Second World War, the family moved to Littlehampton, where they stayed for 20 years.

Following the death of Glyn, in 1961, she married her second husband Harold Nunns, and they lived in Rustington, where Queenie remained until she was 96. Harold died in 1979.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Queenie is a keen traveller, having visited America, Canada and much of Europe throughout her lifetime.

She has four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

On Saturday, she received a congratulations message from the Queen, for reaching the impressive milestone.

Queenie now looks forward to achieving her ambition of surpassing her mother’s record.