Diocese of Down & Dromore

Mrs Lily Spence, a member of Willowfield Parish celebrated her 108th birthday on the 31st December 2006.  Bishop Harold and the Rector, Canon David McClay, visited the much-loved member of the parish to congratulate her on her birthday.

At 108 Mrs Spence is probably the oldest indoor member of the Mothers' Union.  She always had a keen practical faith with a particular interest in missionaries working abroad. 

As a member of the Spence family, whose Fish and Chip business is well known in the East Belfast area, Lily began serving fish suppers back in 1921 - the cost of a fish supper back then was 3d in pre-decimal money!

Some facts about the year Mrs Spence was born:

• C.S. Lewis was born in Ballyhackamore, Belfast

• The Titanic hadn't yet been built

• The Bishop of Down, Dromore and Connor was the Right Reverend Thomas James Willand

• The American Book of Common Prayer was revised

• Trams in Belfast were drawn by horses

• Queen Victoria was on the throne

• The Marquis of Salisbury was Prime Minister

• Gladstone died of cancer

• French chemists Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium

• Lord Curzon was British Viceroy of India

• The last cavalry charge of the British army took place at the battle of Omduman

• The Russian Social Democratic party is founded and began agitating for reform

• There was a gold rush along the upper Yukon River

• The Treaty of Paris was signed between United States of America and Spain ending the Spanish-American War. Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Phillipines were ceded to the United States for $20 million.