Sale pensioner celebrates 100th birthday with special yoga work-out

Mary Brewer invited The Messenger around for a cup of tea to celebrate her new status as a centenarian, and to witness her age-defying yoga work-out.

The downstairs rooms of Mary Brewer’s Sale home overflow with gifts, flowers and cards. But her most prized possession, taking centre stage on the mantlepiece, is a telegram from the Queen.

You’d never believe this lively, intelligent woman was born, in Harboro Road, on June 21, 1918 - when the First World War was still raging in Europe.

“It is the longest day of the year, June 21, and my mother always said it was her longest day, too", quipped Mary.

When Mary was two, the family moved to Nether Alderley where she attended St. Hilary’s school in Alderley Edge.

“No sweets were allowed when you walked outside,” she said.

At the age of 11, she managed to save £2-19-6 out of her 6d a week pocket money and bought a bicycle.

In 1937, she joined the original Royal College of Music in Manchester to study piano and flute.

She became a professional musician and, until ten years ago, gave flute lessons.

Music examinations are still held at her house.

In 1953, Mary married fellow musician Jimmy Brewer, who played trombone in a Big Band. He died in 1971.

Around 1961, the pair impulsively bought a canal boat. This led to them founding Sale Cruising Club.

Last Friday, the club threw a party for Mary, their Honorary Vice President.

“We sat outside in the sunshine,” she said.

The following day she organised afternoon tea at Sale Conservative Club.

“I was pleased that my only surviving brother, Burnham, 92, a former archdeacon of West Cumberland, came,” she said.

Mary remains remarkably self-sufficient and only gave up driving at Christmas.

She still belongs to Sale History Society and she has attended Yoga classes twice a week since 1976.

Every Sunday she goes to the 8am service at St. Anne’s church, Sale.

“They gave me a huge bouquet of flowers", she said, smiling.