'Amazing' great-grandad celebrates 100th birthday at a 'lovely occasion' in Derbyshire village hall
A great-grandfather has celebrated his 100th birthday at a party with family and friends.
Fred Redfearn was the centre of attention at the celebration in Bradwell Village Hall. His eldest daughter Olwyn said: “The birthday party was a lovely occasion – everyone said it had been a memorable day. There were about 50 people altogether at one time or another during the afternoon.”
Fred is father of Olwyn, Richard, Joanne and Becky and has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
His recipe for a long life revolves around a keen interest in sport of all kinds. Fred played football, cricket, golf and bowls and swam regularly when he was younger. He has been a lifelong supporter of Sheffield United. Fred said that anything to do with sport has kept his body fit and his mind lively.
Olwyn said: “Whilst he still could, he would start every day with his stretches and bending to touch his toes!
"He’s an amazing man….he has fought off cancer and heart disease in the past and reached this fantastic milestone centenary.”
Fred has lived in Bradwell village since 1993 when he moved there with his wife Olga. The couple had previously lived in Bradway, Sheffield and decided to move to the countryside on Fred’s retirement.
Sheffield-born Fred worked for himself as a car body repairer for many years until he retired. During his late teens he joined the engineering corps in the Army and skills he learned there led to his life’s career with cars. Fred worked as a machine engineer at Laycocks on Archer Road, Sheffield before launching his own business.
He met Olga at the end of the Second World War at a tea dance in Sheffield City Hall. Unfortunately, there was no money for a wedding so the sweethearts eloped to Brighouse, where Fred had a job at the time. Fred picked Olga up one night in November 1949 and they got married at the Register Office with Fred’s brother Bill and his wife as witnesses on November 26.
Olwyn was born a year later in November 1950, and they returned to Sheffield.
Fred and Olga were married for 51 years before Olga sadly died in 2001, at the age of 76. Devoted Fred had cared for her throughout her painful battle with osteoarthritis for eight years.
Keen golfer Fred played for nearly 60 years and was a member of Lees Hall Golf Club for most of his adult life, only giving up when his mobility became limited. He then turned to Crown Green Bowls and joined the Bradwell club, where he played until 2020 when he couldn’t manage it any longer.