Musical surprise on Gladys's 102nd birthday

Members of the Newark Salvation Army Band made a surprise appearance to play at the 102nd birthday celebrations of a long-time church member.

Mrs Gladys Buttle, has been living at the Troc Care Home, Newark, since January 2014.

She has been a member of the Salvation Army for more than 60 years and was visited by members Captain Matt Elsey, Vic Catley and David Longstaff.

They played a selection of brass band music, including her favourite song, The Old Rugged Cross.

Mrs Buttle said: “I love the Salvation Army and was born into it as I grew up.

“It has helped me my entire life and it’s why I have lived as long as I have.”

Mr Elsey said it was an honour to play for such a long-serving member of the group.

“It’s only in the past few months that Mrs Buttle has not been able to come to our meetings,” he said. “She’s an incredible woman.

“The Salvation Army celebrates its 150th birthday this year and to have a member who has been alive for two-thirds of that time is incredible.”

Mrs Buttle was born in Dinnington, South Yorkshire, into a family of four brothers and two sisters.

After leaving school, she went into day service and then worked as an under-housemaid in Buxton before moving to Nottingham aged 24.

She married farmer Mr John Buttle a year later and they lived in Nottingham.

During the second world war Mrs Buttle worked as a bus conductor.

The couple later ran a pub in Somercotes for 16 years before retiring. Her husband died in the mid-1980s.

The couple had a daughter, Noreen, who died after suffering cancer in her 40s.

Their son, John, lives in Cyprus.

Mrs Buttle, who has three grandchildren, moved to Vine Way, Newark, to be near her family when her husband died.