Special guests join Seymour Hill legend to wish her a happy 107th birthday
Seymour Hill woman Winnie Jess recently celebrated her 107th birthday with some very special guests.
Winnie, who was born in Kinallen but has lived in Seymour Hill since 1958, was delighted to welcome Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh Alderman Amanda Grehan and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to the celebrations.
The local lady, believed to be one of the oldest living women in Northern Ireland, spent the war years working in a factory outside Dromore before moving to Seymour Hill.
For many years she worked as a cleaner and caretaker at Seymour Hill Primary School.
When she celebrated her 100th birthday in 2018, she paid a visit to the school and shared stories of her life with the pupils.
At the time, school principal Mr Stephen Nimmons said: “During World War Two Mrs Jess worked at a hem stitching factory near Dromore, where she worked on the machines and made fancy patterns around pillow cases and table cloths.
“Every day she would have to cycle four miles to work and in the evenings four miles back home – rain, hail or snow. When the war was at its height, the factory started making uniforms for the soldiers.
“Just after the war, in 1950, Mrs Jess married and went on to have three daughters. She now has three children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren."
Wishing Winnie many happy returns on her 107th birthday, Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly said: “It was an honour to wish Winnie Jess a very Happy 107th Birthday
"Winnie is a Seymour Hill legend and moved into her house newly built some 67 years ago.
"It was a lovely celebration.”