Dancing Marys celebrate 197 years!

FRIENDSHIPS, hard work…and dancing. That’s the recipe for long life, according to Mary Powell and Mary Bartley.
And they should know, for today (Tuesday) Mary Powell celebrates her 100th birthday and tomorrow, Mary Bartley, will be 97.
The pair have been friends for more than 60 years and both are members of the Sandy Lane Friday Dancing Club – which actually meets at the Methodist Hall in Walton Road, Stockton Heath.
Mary Powell, of Appleton, still drives her own car and baked her own birthday cake. She was over the moon at receiving a greeting from The Queen.
Mary Bartley still regularly goes shopping in Stockton Heath village.
Both have kept busy during the cold spell by clearing snow from around their homes.
The dancing club is throwing a special party for their two oldest members.
Organiser Joan Hilton said: “They are quite remarkable ladies. We have 67 members and I think all are over 70. But the two Marys are our oldest members.”
Mary Powell is taking family and friends out for a special meal and also holding an open day at her home.
She has baked three birthday cakes to cater for her three special events!
The two Marys have many memories of life in the Warrington area including the time a Zeppelin flew over the town during the First World War.
For many years they worked together.
On the secret of a long life, both are agreed that hard work never killed anyone.
Mary Powell said: “I’ve done all sort of things from running a shop to making my own furniture and gardening.
Mary Bartley added: “You have to keep active and take an interest in things. Too many people, when they retire, just stop doing things.”
Pictured: Mary Powell (left) and Mary Bartley