Family travel thousands of miles to celebrate Amy's special day

Amy Sykes celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends.
Picture ref: AB251a0716 — Amy Sykes celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. Picture ref: AB251a0716

Family travelled from as far as Africa to celebrate a woman's 100th birthday.

Amy Skyes marked the special milestone on July 2 with a tea party at Ings House Nursing Home in Liversedge.

She was born in Batley in 1916 - just one day after the first whistles blew to signify the start of the Battle of the Somme. Her nieces travelled from Tanzania and Scotland for the party at the Bradford Road home, where she is a resident. Miss Sykes grew up on Lady Ann Road in Soothill, Batley, before going on to work as a teacher in Liverpool.

She then become a lecturer in the Merseyside city at a catering college, where she worked until she retired. In 1995, Miss Sykes moved back to the Spen Valley and settled in Roberttown. Family who attended her tea party included her three nieces, two great nephews and two great nieces, as well as two great, great nephews and her great, great niece.

Her niece, Jean Bamforth, said: “My aunt is very happy at Ings House Nursing Home. She travelled when she was younger and she has had a great life.”