Inspirational Winifred turns 100
She is known to all who have met her as an exceptional lady of many talents.
A sufferer of the childhood disorder of the nervous system called Sydenham's chorea, commonly known as Saint Vitus Dance, she was forced to educate herself.
But after reaching the grand age of 100, Winifred Ida Shaw, born and raised in Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton, can look back on a life that has seen her take on a variety of jobs and marry twice.
She reached the milestone at New Cross Hospital, surrounded by members of her family including daughters Jacquie Evans and Audrey Harrison, granddaughter Kim Evans and great-granddaughters Kyra and Suzanne Evans.
Pictures, balloons, cards and banners adorned the walls as the family got together to wish Winifred well.
Daughter Jacquie said: "They let us use the visiting room, it was just a small family party and everyone had a great time."
Winifred is a a self-taught dressmaker and a maker of home furnishings.
During the Second World War, she worked at Boulton Paul aircraft manufacturers, in Fordhouses, as a welder.
Honourably, she also took care of a seven-year old evacuee girl called Vera, from the London area, during this time, a sign of her kind and caring nature.
She left the Black Country to run her own guest-house in Bournemouth with her first husband, Norman Sharp, a drummer and pianist described by Winifred's nephew David Tunney as 'the love of her life'.
Mr Tunney said: "It was an awful, tragic loss for her when Norman died.
"They married in Wolverhampton in 1936, Norman was a dental mechanic and a part-time musician. He was only 45."
Following Norman's death, Winifred returned to Wolverhampton and became supervisor of a female section of production workers at Cortaulds in Whitmore Reans.
Her second husband, Ted Shaw, had previously worked with her at Boulton Paul.
Mr Tunney said: "Ted was infatuated with Winifred when they worked together.
"He never thought he would have an opportunity to make a life with her but they married in 1958.
"He was a remarkably good and caring man but once more she was inflicted by his early death, he was in his mid sixties."
As Winifred turns 100, her nephew is adamant that the qualities that have steered her so well in life are still intact.
He said: "She remains an extraordinary lady and an inspiration to everyone she meets."
