JULIA Reade was born at the turn of the century the last century that is.
In the year she was born, the Wright brothers made their historic flight in a plane, and the first transmission of human speech by radio waves was made.
Now Mrs Reade, who lives in Dovedale residential home in Welling, has celebrated her 103rd birthday and seen man land on the moon and multi-television channels bounced into people's homes off satellites orbiting in space.
Mrs Reade was one of six children born in Silvertown, east London, where her parents were the local bakers. Unusually, she stayed at school until she was 16 before going to work in the City.
She married Sydney, an electrical engineer, when she was 22 and had two children, a son and daughter.
Mrs Reade went back to work as a legal secretary as her children grew older, and stayed at work until she was over 70.
She moved to Dovedale 20 years ago to be near her daughter Pat O'Hanlon. She has two grandchildren.
She celebrated her birthday with a party at the home.
April 29, 2003 10:30
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