7:00am Wednesday 29th April 2009
By Kathie Griffiths
Playing bingo on her 102nd birthday was always on the cards for Anne Webster.
The Shipley pensioner never misses a game on weekdays so yesterday was no exception.
And staff at Buckingham Bingo near Bradford Interchange organised a smart limousine to pick her up from home – then presented her with a bingo-ticket shaped cake and champagne.
Mrs Webster is a familiar face at the city centre bingo hall where she has been five – sometimes six – days a week, every week since it opened seven years ago.
Her son Keith Webster, of Wilsden, plays bingo with his mum twice a week.
He said: “Before this place opened, she used to take herself off on a bus all over – Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley – just to get a good game.
“She always had a great time but it was a bit of a worry for the family! We’re pretty sure she’d still be on her travels if it hadn’t been for this place opening.”
On days when her son is not with her, she still catches a bus by herself from her home in Saltaire Road to get there.
“I love bingo. It’s somewhere to go and make friends. I always look forward to it,” said Mrs Webster, whose previous big wins have included a cruise to the Greek Islands and a £500 cash prize.
The great, great, great grandmother to two – who also has six great, great grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 16 grandchildren and three children, first played bingo after the war.
“When my husband was alive we used to go to Laisterdyke Working Men’s Club and I played it there. I’ve always enjoyed it – all those numbers, keeps the mind active!” she said.
Buckingham Bingo’s manager Robert Cahill said: “She’s a remarkable woman and we think the world of her.
“When she told us she was coming here on her birthday we wanted to do something extra special to make her day.”
Robert added: “According to our records Anne isn’t our first-ever 102-year-old player.
“But she could now be the oldest bingo player in Bradford – possibly the world!”
e-mail: kathie.griffiths @telegraphandargus.co.uk
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