By Joe McCann
A COMBER woman celebrated her 100th birthday this week and recalled a life well lived and her continued enjoyment of the ‘Commer Craic’.
Louise Cox was born in Derry on June 23, 1925. Her family originally travelled a lot due to her father being a member of the RUC, but the family eventually settled down in Comber.
Although she now has Alzheimer’s, Louise still fondly recalls growing up in Comber where she met her husband Alf, a British soldier during the war. Louise said the war years were an exciting time for a teenage girl due the large number of American and British soldiers who were stationed in the town where she met her husband.
Alf and Louise married in 1945 and visited London shortly after where she can still recall it being in a state of devastation from the Blitz.
Following Alf’s return from service in the war, they bought a home in Ballyregan Road in Dundonald and raised two sons, Alan and Richard. Alf and Louise had a very happy life in Dundonald and said it had a strong community and was a great place to bring up her sons.
As well as being a keen badminton player, Louise also worked in the Ulster Hospital as a secretary.
Louise and her husband moved to Bangor following their retirement but she has always considered Comber to be her true home and she still visits the town every Monday and Saturday to see her sister Rosaleen Watson and catch up on all the ‘Commer Craic’.
The Comber centenarian still keeps very busy and on Tuesdays and Thursdays she goes to the Butterfly suite in Bayview, Bangor to take part in activities and have lunch. Primary school children from Grange Park Primary School visit the Butterfly suite every Thursday to visit Louise and others who attend and the school organised a 100th birthday party for her this week.
On Wednesdays Louise attends the Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church for ‘Singing for the Brain’ which is ran by the Alzheimer’s society and is also a member of Befrienders and regularly meets up with Pat and Alicia from Peninsula Care on Wednesdays and Friday to play draughts, ludo and chat.
Louise’s son, Richard, lives in Bangor with his wife and two grandchildren, Martin and Ruth, who help to support Louise in her own home. The Comber woman stated she is very appreciative for all the help she receives and is very happy and content with her life.
