Could Kathleen be oldest resident to have been born in Burgh-le-Marsh?

Kathleen Andrews, whose birthday was on Thursday, said couldn’t believe her eyes when she walked into Poppy’s Restaurant on Burgh Road and saw 10 members of her family sat around a table.

“I thought I was going out to Louth, so they really tricked me. It’s been quite a surprise.”

Villagers will probably remember Kathleen when she owned the Spar Shop for 10 years with her husband, Peter - her ‘toy boy’ at just six months younger.

Born in the ‘house on the hill’ to Edith and Henry Abbott, her father had a threshing machine business.

For 12 years Kathleen worked at International Stores in Skegness before marrying her first husband John Romaniuk, a farm labourer.

They had three children who were all at the party - Stephen Romaniuk, Nina Richardson and Annette Heyes.

Kathleen said she met her second husband, a cardboard box salesman, at a country and western night at The Fleece Inn.

She said: “He popped into the pub on his way home and we’ve been married 30 years now.”

Other special guests at the party were her grand-daughter Tania Copeland and great-grandson Eden Copeland.

Kathleen said: “It’s been lovely to see everyone - it’s over a year since we were last all together.”