Eleanor celebrates her 100th birthday in style

ELEANOR Brown’s secret to a long and healthy life is a simple one - avoid alcohol and smoking and have a placid and caring nature.

It has worked wonders for her as she celebrated her 100th birthday on October 27.

The resident of Rose Lodge Nursing Home celebrated her major milestone surrounded by staff, along with family and friends.

Affectionately known as Ellie, she was born in Hill Street Lisburn in 1912.

Her father Charles Donegan was a local butcher, while her mother Eliza Jane ran a small grocery/sweetshop attached to the family house, near the old Gasworks.

Ellie was one of four children, two sisters May and Lily and brother John, who have all predeceased her.

She married Martin Brown, who she met while working in Hilden Mill.

They lived in Cromwell’s Highway and in later life Oxford Avenue off the Belsize Road.

They had one son Reggie who lived and worked in South Africa and then in London.

Ellie, who has Alzheimer’s, has now been a resident in Rose Lodge Nursing Home for about 15 years.

Ellie worked for many years in the canteens of Lisburn Technical College.

She survives her husband Martin and son Reggie.