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100-year-old Westbourne Park pensioner misses out on Queen's birthday card
A pensioner who was born in Ireland and moved to England more than 50 years ago has missed out on a 100th birthday card from the Queen.
Mary Hughes celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family at the Westmead Elderly Resource Centre, in Tavistock Road, Westbourne Park, on Friday last week.
She was born in Monaghan, Ireland, where she worked on her parents' farm for several years.
After moving to England in the 1960s to find a job, she took on checkout assistant roles at various supermarkets before joining the civil service and retiring at the age of 60.
During this time, she lived in Shirland Road, Maida Vale, before moving to Ellwood Court, in Clearwell Drive, North Paddington, and later Warwick Avenue, in Maida Vale.
She moved into the Westmead residential care home in 2002, at the age of 91.
Members of her family were disappointed she did not receive a birthday card from the Queen.
Her nephew Peadar Hughes said: "She didn't get a letter from the Queen because even though she's been living here for so long, she never applied for British passport.
"If she had been living in Ireland, she would have got 2,540 Euros from the President but she didn't get that either.
"It seems like she's missed out on the best of both worlds."
Miss Hughes could sign a declaration stating that although she was born in Ireland, she now considers herself a British citizen, which would qualify her for a birthday card from the Queen.
She never got married or had children and is the last remaining member of her generation, following the deaths of her brothers James and Peter and sisters Sarah and Bernadette.
Her family includes three nieces Bernie Whyte, Mary McKernan and Rose Corrigan, and two nephews John and Peadar Hughes, who all came for her birthday party.
Mr Hughes added: "She is a lovely lady and has been a very good aunt over the years.
"She's always had a cracking sense of humour and is a very jolly person.
"She was always very bubbly and loved dancing."
Bernie Whyte said: "It's no great surprise that she's lived to 100 because her sisters lived until they were in their mid-90s.
"She was always very healthy and loved life."
Joel Bello, manager of the care home, said: "She has a lot of friends here, and staff and residents do love her.
"She does look good for someone of her age.
"The last time someone turned 100 here was around two or three years ago, but with Mary we want to aim for the Guinness Book of Records."
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "One hundredth birthday messages from the Queen are sent to citizens of the UK as well as realms and UK overseas territories.
"Once suitable proof is supplied in an application, then the card can be sent out."
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This 100 year old lady is entitled to her payment for the Irish president as a new rule came into policy in 2006. See citizen advice link:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/older_and_retired_people/centenarians_bounty.html
Congratulations