Lily celebrates her 109th
Willowfield parishioner, Mrs Lily Spence, celebrated her 109th birthday on New Year's Eve (31st December 2007). Amongst the wellwishers who called at her home was her rector, the Revd Canon David McClay, and the Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Right Revd Harold Miller.
Lily always had a keen practical faith and is an indoor member of Mothers' Union. Over the years she corresponded regularly with missionaries working overseas.
A local landmark in East Belfast is Spence's Fish and Chip Shop and Lily, being part of the family business, started serving fish suppers there in 1921 - suppers then costing a mere 3 pennies (in pre-decimal money)!
In the year Lily was born the Titanic hadn't been built, trams in Belfast were drawn by horses, Queen Victoria was on the throne and the Right Revd Thomas James Willand was Bishop of Down, Dromore and Connor.