This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50634770
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Newport sisters could be Wales' oldest siblings | Newport sisters could be Wales' oldest siblings |
(about 2 hours later) | |
She may be turning 100 years old - but Lil Thomas is still the youngster when it comes to her sister. | She may be turning 100 years old - but Lil Thomas is still the youngster when it comes to her sister. |
Lil, of Newport, has just become a centenarian, following in the footsteps of her 108-year-old sister, Amy Winifred Hawkin. | Lil, of Newport, has just become a centenarian, following in the footsteps of her 108-year-old sister, Amy Winifred Hawkin. |
With a combined age of 208, they are thought to be among the oldest living sisters in Wales. | With a combined age of 208, they are thought to be among the oldest living sisters in Wales. |
Between them, they have received six birthday cards from the Queen. | Between them, they have received six birthday cards from the Queen. |
Both sisters have received one to mark their 100th, while Amy - known as Win - was also sent a card when she turned 105 and has had one every year since. | Both sisters have received one to mark their 100th, while Amy - known as Win - was also sent a card when she turned 105 and has had one every year since. |
Born a year after the end of World War One, Lil was Wales' first female bus conductor in World War Two between her career as an entertainer. | Born a year after the end of World War One, Lil was Wales' first female bus conductor in World War Two between her career as an entertainer. |
Having grown up in the Pillgwenlly area of the city, she was a natural performer. | Having grown up in the Pillgwenlly area of the city, she was a natural performer. |
"I was fortunate to have a pitch perfect voice at the age of two," she said. | "I was fortunate to have a pitch perfect voice at the age of two," she said. |
"It was like Katherine Jenkins - but just not trained." | "It was like Katherine Jenkins - but just not trained." |
It was little surprise that she was soon a regular on the stage of Newport's Empire Theatre, singing, tap dancing and playing the accordion while her older sister was part of a dance troupe and known as "the highest kicker in Wales". | It was little surprise that she was soon a regular on the stage of Newport's Empire Theatre, singing, tap dancing and playing the accordion while her older sister was part of a dance troupe and known as "the highest kicker in Wales". |
With the outbreak of war in 1939, Lil volunteered to be a bus conductor. | With the outbreak of war in 1939, Lil volunteered to be a bus conductor. |
"Conductresses were needed during the war because of the black out and there were a lot of Irish boys working here who didn't know where they were going," said Lil. | "Conductresses were needed during the war because of the black out and there were a lot of Irish boys working here who didn't know where they were going," said Lil. |
"We had a small lamp on our front which was the only light inside the bus. | "We had a small lamp on our front which was the only light inside the bus. |
"It was so dark that you had to call out every stop, whether you could see it or not. | "It was so dark that you had to call out every stop, whether you could see it or not. |
"But we used to have a laugh on the last bus, singing songs with the boys on their way home from the pub." | "But we used to have a laugh on the last bus, singing songs with the boys on their way home from the pub." |
After the war, Lil married and moved with her husband Donald, a deputy post master, to South Africa. | After the war, Lil married and moved with her husband Donald, a deputy post master, to South Africa. |
However the couple still loved entertaining and travelled the country performing for charities. | However the couple still loved entertaining and travelled the country performing for charities. |
"We travelled from Durban to Johannesburg playing in church and town halls for the elderly who could barely afford to live," she recalled. | "We travelled from Durban to Johannesburg playing in church and town halls for the elderly who could barely afford to live," she recalled. |
"My husband played the piano and could sit from 7 o'clock and not play the same song twice all night." | "My husband played the piano and could sit from 7 o'clock and not play the same song twice all night." |
The couple returned and a three-month caretaker job in charge of the Bridge Inn in Llangwm, near Usk, Monmouthshire, turned into a 12-year stay. | |
She said she was the only publican in the area who would welcome blind people, as others turned them away as they believed visually impaired people would spill their drinks. | She said she was the only publican in the area who would welcome blind people, as others turned them away as they believed visually impaired people would spill their drinks. |
It was only when she was well into her 90s that Lil stopped singing but, now living in a care home in Bettws, she still loves to dance. | It was only when she was well into her 90s that Lil stopped singing but, now living in a care home in Bettws, she still loves to dance. |
Longevity is clearly in the blood with her sister, who goes by her middle name Win, thought to be one of the oldest living Welsh people. | Longevity is clearly in the blood with her sister, who goes by her middle name Win, thought to be one of the oldest living Welsh people. |
But what is Lil's best advice, after a century? | But what is Lil's best advice, after a century? |
"Never lose your sense of humour because if you can't laugh, especially at yourself, you will never get through it all." | "Never lose your sense of humour because if you can't laugh, especially at yourself, you will never get through it all." |
Meanwhile, Win will turn 109 in January, when she can expect her sixth letter from the Queen. | Meanwhile, Win will turn 109 in January, when she can expect her sixth letter from the Queen. |
"I got a stack of them there, a boxful!" she added. | "I got a stack of them there, a boxful!" she added. |