Nine months have now passed since the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the UK, and the majority of people have been forced to celebrate their birthday slightly differently than expected.

Mollie Wildley, nee Green, had hoped for a celebration to mark her 100th birthday with friends and family on Boxing Day.

But instead, it will be a subdued affair for the community stalwart who has lived her entire life in the town of Devizes. Her son, John, is her primary carer and hopes that a surprise article in the Gazette and Herald could help others come together to mark the occasion through words rather than company.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Mollie Kathleen WildeyMollie Kathleen Wildey

Brought up on Avon Road, she used to play on the ruins of Devizes Prison and went to school at what was St Peter's. During the war, Mollie was in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force located at Innsworth in Gloucestershire. Her hard work ensured she obtained a rank of Corporal.

After the war Mollie moved back to Avon Road to care for her mother after her father died suddenly.

She worked at Mays Limited, a furniture and fabrics business, and met her late husband, Kenneth, in 1952. He was the Chief Public Health inspector for Devizes and surrounding areas up to 1974 when he retired.

The pair went on to live in Wick Lane for over 35 years of married life and Mollie became a mother to two children. Sylvia now lives in Canada and John lives in Steeple Ashton, near Trowbridge.

John said: “I know she’d have loved to have an open house with everyone invited, but that's just impossible this year. The grandchildren can't come back as much as they'd love to. We want Mum to know we think the world of her. Fingers crossed we can have proper celebrations further down the line."

John would like to thank the congregation of St Andrews Church for their support for his mother this year, as well as Mollie's close neighbour who has, without fail, delivered fish and chips to her front door.