Ivy looks back on a century of life | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Ivy Hague, looking not a day over 85, was 100 yesterday.

She was the centre of attention at the Te Mahana Rest Home in Patea where she has been a resident since 1995.

A table laden with sumptuous lamingtons, club sandwiches, savouries and a large chocolate cake with "Love and Happy 100th birthday Ivy" written on it, was all set up for Ivy and her guests.

Family, friends and several small giggling great, great grandchildren chatted to Mrs Hague, admiring her balloons, piles of presents and bouquets of bright flowers.

Mrs Hague emigrated from England in 1921 with her family when she was 11 after a family inheritance had gone sour.

The family was to inherit a castle and was preparing to move into it when a close relative took off with all the relevant documentation and the inheritance was then filed with the Chancery, the public record office.

Even though Mrs Hague had won a scholarship to a prestigious school, her parents wanted to leave England and put it all behind them.

They lived in Wellington, where Mrs Hague was considered so smart at the local school that they wanted her to teach instead.

At 21 she married a young violinist, Bert Hague, who played at all the smart cabarets and dances around the capital city with his dance band.

Mrs Hague was always passionate about politics and followed the politics of Australia and new Zealand very closely.

She was also an avid reader.

She has five children - four daughters and a son.

Until 1990 Mrs Hague lived in Upper Hutt but moved to Patea to be near her eldest daughter Marie McLuskie.

Yesterday at the home was a red letter day for Mrs Hague who, although she wasn't entirely sure why so many people had dropped in to see her, was delighted all the same.