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Inspirational mother who recently battled cancer, covid and norovirus reaches 100


Jessica Barnes
Fri, 23 June 2023 

Louisa Langley will celebrate the milestone birthday this Saturday (Image: Supplied)

FORMER Rylands Wire worker says she must reach her 100th birthday because she has ‘just renewed her fridge-freezer insurance’.

Born on Halifax Close in Padgate back in 1923, Louisa Langley is described as ‘an inspiration to all her family’.

One of four siblings, and having grown a flourishing family of her own, Louisa will soon be expecting a letter from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as she celebrates her milestone birthday this Saturday.


Starting work in the office at Rylands Wire Works as a teenager, this is where Louisa eventually met her beloved husband and the father of her children, Walter.

Warrington Guardian: Louisa Langley and Walter met when they were eighteen while working at Rylands Wire works in Warrington

Louisa Langley and Walter met when they were eighteen while working at Rylands Wire works in Warrington (Image: Supplied)

A whirlwind romance, the 18-year-olds met and fell in love but only three months later Walter was called up for the Army.

Louisa’s daughter, Maureen Baxter-Smallwood said: “Dad was called away to Burma during the war and was away for three years, he was not allowed to come home.”

“Mum waited for him. He used to write poems and letters to her all the time. She still has the book of poems he wrote to her.”

Upon Walters return to Warrington after the end of the Second World War, the pair got married in 1947 at St Mary’s Church and their first child Dave was born a year later.

Warrington Guardian: Louisa and Walter married after he returned from Burma during the Second World War

Louisa and Walter married after he returned from Burma during the Second World War (Image: Supplied)

Their second child, Maureen was born a few years after that in 1953 and Louisa stayed at home to look after the children until they were of school age, when she went back to work as a cleaner at Boots in Warrington.

As a family, Maureen said how both her and her brother have ‘extremely happy childhood memories’ visiting different holiday locations across the country.

“All the holidays we went on were in this country. One of my first memories was in a Butlins Chalet.

“We used to go to Wales a lot and we had lots of happy memories.”

Maureen said how in later life, Louisa and Walter would enjoy visiting the St Stephen’s Club in Orford every weekend and would play bingo and listen to live music.

“They also loved going walking around the shops in Birchwood and they would go and use the toning tables together. They were both very active together up until their 70s and 80s.”

Sadly Walter died in 2011 and Maureen said the family did not know how their mum would continue without him.

Warrington Guardian: Louisa will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday surrounded by family and friends

Louisa will celebrate her 100th birthday on Saturday surrounded by family and friends (Image: Supplied)

“When dad died, we did not know if she would cope without him. He took good care of her and looked after her for all of their life together,” she said.

But as the admirable figure head she is known to be, Louisa has continued to surprise her family with her strong will and strength.

Maureen said the last decade has been particularly testing for Louisa.

“She survived cancer of the womb eight years ago. She got through it no problem.

“She said to me ‘I am not going anywhere because I have just renewed my fridge-freezer insurance for another five years’.”

After battling cancer Louisa suffered a fractured spine, before then contracting and overcoming Covid and a spout of norovirus.

“After everything that she has been through, she has come back smiling,” Maureen added.

Warrington Guardian: Louisa has battled cancer, covid and norovirus in the last 10 years of her life but has 'still come out smiling'

Louisa has battled cancer, covid and norovirus in the last 10 years of her life but has 'still come out smiling' (Image: Supplied)

Lousia now lives in a bungalow in Culcheth and receives full time care by a team of ‘adoring’ carers who are continuously caught off guard by Louisa’s impeccable sense of humour.

“The carers love her and are so good to her. She is always making them laugh.”

Summarising her mum’s character, Maureen said: “She is very tough and an inspiration to all the family.”

Louisa will be joined by her two children, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and her great-great grandchild, along with all her family and friends and carers to celebrate her 100th birthday at the Village Club in Culcheth.

Maureen added that Louisa’s secret to living a long and healthy life is her ‘little tot of whiskey she enjoys of a night’.