A former Norwich and Costessey woman has celebrated her 102nd birthday.
Eva Barlow was born in Towlers Court on Elm Hill and attended the Girls Model School before she worked in the boot and shoe industry. She lived in a bungalow in Woodlands Road, Costessey, with her husband Albert, which they built and called Lowden – after Mrs Barlow's maiden name of Warden and her married name.
She was a keen violinist and played in several Norwich orchestras and was a member of a concert party with her drummer husband which entertained people across Norfolk and was also a founder member of the Costessey Old Friends Club. In 1979, Mrs Barlow and her husband moved to Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft. Mrs Barlow continued playing the violin well into her nineties, but had to give up due to arthritis in her fingers.
She celebrated her 102nd birthday at the Broadlands Residential Home in Oulton Broad on Christmas Eve.
When asked about the secret of her longevity Mrs Barlow told the Evening News it was down to: 'Being as happy as you can be no matter what the circumstances' and coming from 'good old Norfolk stock'.
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