Jan Norris celebrates 100th birthday at Belong Macclesfield

Jan Norris has celebrated her 100th birthday in a party with friends, family and staff at Belong Macclesfield.
Born Margaret Joan Sayles in Sheffield, 1915, but always known to her friends as Jan, she studied at the Whitworth art school in Manchester and later worked on Manchester Oxford Road at the Refuge Assurance Company, in a building now used as the Palace Hotel. Jan remembers dressing smartly and professionally in her early days at the company, setting an example that was soon followed by the other women working there, who had previously arrived at work with rollers in their hair.
Jan's parents were members of the Davyhulme Park Golf Club and Jan briefly played golf there as a junior, with her sister. Speaking of the period, Jan said: "I was never any good at sports, you wouldn't have wanted to play golf with me!"
After the end of the Second World War, Jan married Harold Norris, who came from a large family in Didsbury. The two later worked together at Artingstall and Hind, one of the UK's oldest fine art auctioneers. Living together in Wilmslow, Jan and Harold had an interest in historic watermills and travelled within the UK and overseas to visit working watermills. In her free time Jan also volunteered with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (now known as the Royal Voluntary Service) and was a keen churchgoer.
Jan has lived in Belong Macclesfield since December 2010. During her time at the village she has regained a measure of mobility and independence thanks to regular exercise with Fitness Instructor, Barbara Tait.
Jan said: "Making the move to Belong was the best thing my family ever did for me, I love it here."
Belong Macclesfield General Manager, Caroline Ray, said: "It was a privilege to hold Jan's 100th birthday party in the village. Jan is a wonderful lady and we hope that she can celebrate many more happy birthdays with us."