Canning Town resident Ivy Wilkins knew that her 90th birthday was an important milestone, but she had no idea what was in store at the council owned block of flats on Hermit Road when the day came.

Unknown to Ivy the staff in the management office had organised a surprise party with guests including the director of housing, two police community support officers for the ward, the senior housing manager, the housing support officer, the chair and coordinator of the TMO board, her nephews, Terri and Peter- her only surviving family – and Newham Council Chair Winston Vaughan.

Ivy was born in 1931 on Pitt Street off Rathbone Market, the youngest of 13 children and she has survived them all. She has lived in Canning Town all of her life except for a short period as a child during the Second World War.

Her first job was with Tate and Lyle at the age of 14, where she stayed for eight years. She went on to work for a cosmetic factory where she stayed for many years.

Recalling her experience of the war years, she said soldiers were barracked across the road from her home before going off to battle. She also recalled that the Co-op nearby was used as air raid shelters.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.