FERGUS – War bride and longtime Legion member Margaret Bridge has celebrated a century of memories and contributions to the community.
Accompanied by her children, John Bridge of Fergus and Heather Jacks from Sault Ste. Marie, the Highland Manor Retirement Lodge resident celebrated her 100th birthday on March 7.
Bridge grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, before emigrating to Fergus in 1946.
“It’s a lovely city,” she said of Edinburgh. “It’s got a castle, it’s got a palace, it’s got everything the queen wants.”
Residents from the Fergus home gathered to celebrate with Bridge, presenting her with a gift – a framed photo of a bouquet of thistles, the national flower of her homeland.
The gift giving was followed by an arrangement of Happy Birthday on the piano and then cake.
Asked how it feels to be turning 100, Bridge said she’s never felt 100.
“I wake up and wish I was back to being 21,” she explained.
On the secret to making it to 100, Bridge said she’s always looking for advice herself but she offered “stay in bed more often.”
As a war bride and member of the Women’s Land Army in Edinburgh in the Second World War, the Fergus resident has locked in many memories, but what she enjoys most, she said, is facing a new day.
“I’m just always glad to get up in the morning,” she explained. “I always like to start a fresh day. Everything seems to be different.”
Bridge could also be found at the Fergus Legion where she spent a lot of her time in the kitchen.
“We were always cleaning up, we shouldn’t have left a mess in the first place,” she joked.
She first became a member of the Palmerston Legion in 1947 before moving on in 1959 to the Fergus branch, where she served for a time as president of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Her son John said she was always an active member in the Legion, noting she carried a flag from time to time in the Colour Party.
And age never stopped her. She was an active member of St. Andrews Church in Fergus, helping out in the kitchen and serving meals into her 90s. Bridge also acted as a Fergus Girl Guide leader throughout the 60s.
“Those were the happiest days of my life,” she said.
