Bradford woman who came to Britain from Jamaica turns 100

Olive May Bailey, who now lives in Manningham, was born on June 3, 1922, in Jamaica.

Olive Bailey will celebrate her 100th birthday, along with her daughters Carmen Woodley, left, and Cynthia Bailey, right

Her daughter Cynthia Bailey, also from Bradford, said Olive was fond of her heritage and grew up near a river in the parish of St Mary in Jamaica.

Olive's husband Stanley, who passed away in 2011, had served in the RAF in the UK until he was discharged in 1944.

Stanley and Olive Bailey in Jamaica

After World War II, Stanley came back to live in the UK on October 31, 1956, and settled in London on his arrival.

Olive flew to the UK about a year later to join Stanley in London.

Cynthia said: "They worked together at a private school for boys - St Aubyn’s School in Essex. He worked as a cook and she did housekeeping."

"My mum also talks about working at that school. She really enjoyed it."

Just before 1960, the couple moved to Bradford, where Stanley worked in textile mills and Olive worked as a seamstress.

Cynthia, who is the only one of Stanley and Olive's nine children to be born in Bradford, said her mum retired from work around 1980.

Cynthia said her mum has been very well respected by the West Indian community in Bradford.

"She was well respected in the community. In those days, she looked after other people's children," she said.

Many of these children will now join Olive in celebrating her 100th birthday with a party. 

Cynthia added: "Now they're all grown, but they respect what she did for them.

Olive Bailey

"I believe she is probably the oldest person in Bradford’s West Indian community and we are planning to celebrate her life on Saturday, June 4, at The New Tyke in Thornton.

"We couldn't let the occasion go by without a celebration."

Cynthia also spoke about how much her mum loved sewing.

She said: "Everything was based around sewing. She used to make things for other people and she taught me how to knit.

"She enjoyed sitting and knitting for her family and friends. All of the clothes we wore were made by mum."

Cynthia also said her mum was strong in her faith and regularly attended church.

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