For many of us, the prospect of making it to our 100th birthday really does seem like a lifetime away, but for one Mancunian, this landmark age is only around corner.
Marjorie Burke is a resident at Newton Heath-based Averill House – a purpose-built care home that offers residential memory and nursing memory care for those living with dementia – and she is getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday on 4th April.
She is described by those who work at the home as being “a big character”.
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Having lived most of her 99 years in and around the East Manchester area, Marjorie had proudly worked at both Martin’s Bakers & Sandwich Makers in Failsworth, and at Supported Living Facility, Malcom House in Newton Heath, before retiring and arriving at the Averill Street care home in July 2018.
As well as being a “much-loved” resident at Averill House, Marjorie also has two sons and a “very loving family” outside of the home.
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And it’s this love that has inspired her carers to mark Marjorie’s 100th year in a way she will never forget.
Averill House Care Home
To accompany the card she is set to receive from Queen Elizabeth II as she becomes a centurion, the home’s team of Wellbeing Coordinators – who are assisted by suggestions from the residents in organising a varied year-round programme of things to do – have asked the Greater Manchester public to help them surprise Marjorie by also sending her a birthday card.
They are hoping to collect 100 cards for her to open on her 100th birthday.
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Speaking on why the card appeal is so important to the team and why they are so keen to get everyone involved, Jodie Yates – Wellbeing Coordinator at Averill House – said: “All of our staff really want to make this a special occasion for Marjorie, as it’s not every day you turn 100.
“This is why we’re asking for 100 birthday cards – one for every year of her life in celebration of this milestone.
“She is amazing”.
Marjorie Burke / Averill House Care Home
With just over four weeks to go until the big day is finally here, Averill House is asking that all members of the public who wish to send a card, do so by 2nd April, so that they arrive in time for Marjorie to open on her birthday morning.
The cards can be addressed and sent to:
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Jodie Yates, Averill House Care Home, Averill Street, Newton Heath, Manchester, M40 1PF.
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You can find more information about Averill House Care Home here.
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Courteeners set for huge hometown event at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester
Danny Jones
The latest artist due to play Wythenshawe Park has been announced, with hometown heroes Courteeners set to take the stage in Manchester.
Now that is a big booking.
The Middleton-formed Manc band remain one of the biggest contemporary names to come out of Greater Manchester, and having already played to record-breaking crowds at Heaton Park, Old Trafford, and most venues in the region over the last two decades, this is just the next one to tick off.
Better still, they’re bringing some brilliant acts along with them for Live From Wythenshawe Park 2026, with the one-day festival becoming more established every year.
Courteeners, Wythenshawe Park, Manchester. Saturday 29th August 2026 +special guests @thevaccines(performing debut album 'What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?' in full),@thecoralband,Getdown Services & Girl In The Year Above. Tickets:10am Friday 24th Oct https://t.co/AYk3UlTdlkpic.twitter.com/vQAw2ZEpd0
Who is supporting Courteeners at Wythenshawe Park?
As well as openers, Getdown Services and Girl In The Year Above, who’ll be representing Bristol and the Irish delegation respectively, there’s no chance of the warm-ups not doing their job before the headliners get underway.
The two big support acts scheduled to join the St. Jude stars for the massive outdoor gig are none other than Merseyside veterans, The Coral, as well as fellow indie favourites, The Vaccines.
Get. IN.
As if that lineup wasn’t already one of the best Live From Wythenshawe Park has seen to date, the latter are set to play their debut album, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?, in full – 2026 marks a whole 15 years since it was first released, if you can believe that.
You won’t be surprised to hear that their headline UK tour celebrating the same milestone has sold out pretty much across the board, with a second Manchester date added AND now an extra chance to see them live supporting Courteeners.
General admission for the show goes on sale 10am on Friday, 24 October 2025, with tickets available via Gigs and Tours.com as well as Ticketmaster; Courtneers are also donating £1 from every ticket sold directly to the Music Venue Trust, the UK charity protecting and improving grassroots music venues.
That’s what we like to hear.
Contributions like this really do go on to help keep local venues open, support up-and-coming new artists on tour, not to mention it serves as an investment in the future of live music in what is an increasingly challenging industry.
With Courteeners set to follow another big and even more iconic indie rock band already confirmed, Live From Wythenshawe Park 2026 is shaping up nicely.
UK’s hottest binmen wanted for charity calendar and you can nominate them now
Emily Sergeant
Do you know someone who looks hot in high-vis, beautiful behind the wheel of a bin truck, or elegant while emptying the bins?
Well now is their time to shine.
That’s because, waste management experts BusinessWaste.co.uk has launched a new – and rather unique – nationwide search to find ‘Britain’s buffest binman’, celebrating the men and women who do one of the UK’s toughest and most overlooked jobs.
Bin workers do a job that many of us take for granted, but without them, our streets would be dirty, littered with bin bags, and attracting pests.
That’s why this new competition is aiming to shine a spotlight on them at a time when the waste sector faces a shortage of bin workers, as it’s more important than ever to recognise the people who keep the systems running.
The competition will crown the UK’s best-looking bin workers – with 12 winners featuring in a limited-edition charity calendar for 2026.
The UK’s hottest binmen are wanted for a charity calendar and you can nominate them now / Credit: Supplied
Bin workers of all genders, ages, and backgrounds are welcome to apply, and you don’t even have to work on a bin lorry itself, it can be anyone behind the scenes too.
Crucially though, the aim of the competition is to raise money for charity, and this year, funds raised from the calendar will be in aid of FareShare – an organisation focused on fighting hunger and tackling food waste.
FareShare’s vision is for ‘no good food goes to waste’, and so it works to redistribute surplus food to charities that turn it into meals.
Ultimately, this tongue-in-cheek campaign is a chance for the waste sector to have some light-hearted fun.
Keen to enter then? Or know someone who needs to be a part of the calendar? You can nominate yourself, a friend, or a loved one, and all you need to do is just ensure the nominee is happy to be entered and fill in a short form online.
You can enter, and read the full terms and conditions here.
Emily Sergeant -
1st March 2021 
