100-year-old still working for Llandudno charity shop

Nov 18 2010 by Helen Harper, North Wales Weekly News

A WOMAN who celebrated her 100th birthday this week says she will continue to work in a charity shop to help sufferers of the illness which killed both her husband and sister.

Ann Millar, of Penrhyn Park, Rhos-on-Sea, is currently resting due to the cold weather but plans to return to the Cancer Foundation shop on Llandudno’s Madoc Street in the spring.

So astounding is Cork-born Ann’s achievement with her charity work that she has had a special congratulations letter from Irish president Mary McAleese, as well as a letter from the Queen.

After moving from Dublin to Rhos-on-Sea 11 years ago, Ann has worked at the charity shop until the beginning of this year, but took a break because of her health.

Up until 18 months ago Ann was working a four-day week to raise funds for the cancer charity which is close to her heart, but altered to two days because of her age.

Former catwalk model Ann lost her husband Eric to Hodgkins disease, a form of cancer, in 1956, and helped found the charity with her daughter Joy and her husband Ken Pyatt.

Ann also lost her older sister Elizabeth, who died aged 96 eleven years ago of cancer.

But despite celebrating her 100th birthday with two parties this week, Ann is not about to put her feet up, and says she will return to the charity shop once the warmer weather returns.

“I worked for the charity to help raise money for cancer. I think it is very unusual to still be working at my age,” she said.

“I don’t find it difficult, I enjoy working, the people and chatting every day.

“I miss it very much and hope to go back in the spring. My daughter insists it’s too cold in the shop at the moment, the heater is not sufficient and there is no central heating.

“People want to go home to die with dignity and our charity supplies what they need.

“When my daughter Joy was seven we would take her to the children’s hospital to see the children who were ill every year and we’d take jelly babies.

“It would be a good thing if young people did the same today.”

“The suffering of people with cancer is terrible. I nursed Eric for two years.”

And Ann’s secret to long life? “Eric died in 1956, I’ve been a widow since then. I’ve never gone out with anyone else.”

Joy, 64, set up the Cancer Foundation in 1994 with husband Ken, who had lost two wives and his first child to cancer. Joy said her mum was an inspirational lady.

“She has had a letter from the president of Ireland, she doesn’t usually do that. A friend of mine organised it. So mum has had recognition from two heads of states. That is amazing,” said Joy.

“She is very determined, a very brave lady. She lost her husband, and in later years has had a few falls, but she has good health, although a little bit accident prone.

“She has always been of tremendous support to me.

“Cancer touches everybody’s lives, it touched ours very early, so long ago, and has always been there.”

Ann enjoyed a party with the residents of the flats at her home on her birthday (Tuesday) and a party with family the following day.