Squeezed a lot in

Mary Patterson has squeezed a lot into her life and at the age of 97 she shows no signs of slowing down just yet.

Whether it’s playing bingo with friends at our Bulmer House sheltered housing scheme, hopping on the bus to do some shopping, keeping her mind active with books, puzzles and crosswords, or catching up with her family on the phone, Mary always has something going on in her life.

Born in Newcastle, but brought up in Durham (Sacriston), Mary says she is not even supposed to be here at the fine age of 97.

She explains: “I was born very premature and back then, the technology that now keeps babies alive wasn’t available so no-body expected me to survive, but I did!”

After leaving school, Mary got a job working in the architect’s department at the old county hall in Durham, but when the Second World War broke out she was determined to do her bit for King and County and enlisted as a Wren (the Women’s Royal Navy Service).

“I wanted to join the Navy because my brother was in The Merchant Navy and I am glad I did because that’s where I met my husband Joseph, or Pat as I used to call him due to his surname Patterson.

“He was in the Royal Navy and we were stationed at Rossyth in Scotland at the time and of all the men in the world to meet, he ended up being from Greenside, near Newcastle.”

Pat saw lots of action during the war, including being involved in The Battle of the River Plate in 1939, which was the Allies’ first naval victory of the Second World War.

The couple were married and after the war, Mary says they couldn’t get a place for “love nor money” so they had to live with family and friends. They eventually settled and brought up their two daughters Suzie and Ruth and quite a few more additions to the family.

Mary explains: “We fostered children from over 21 years and they were always babies who came to us on a short-term basis, but we ended up keeping one, my other daughter Terri.

Pat sadly passed away over 30 years ago so didn’t get to see his extended family of six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mary trained to be a teacher and taught maths for around 20 years in various schools before retiring and she lived in a DAMHA bungalow in Sacriston, before moving to Bulmer House in April 2021.

It’s a move she says has been the best thing for her.

Mary adds: “I wanted to stay with DAMHA as they have been so good to me and moving to Bulmer House has given me a whole new lease of life.

“Hayley, the concierge, is fantastic and I have made new friends through playing  bingo and taking part in the other activities here, such as coffee morning and fish and chip lunches.

“I can walk to the Spar shop across the road and still get to the bus to the town centre and Sunderland, so I am more active than I have been for a long while.

“I couldn’t be happier here.”