A wise and caring woman who makes everyone feel special. A loving wife. A wonderful mother. A positive force. Simply an amazing person.
The list of words friends and loved ones use to describe Anne Gauntley seems endless, and they were sure to share them on Saturday as everyone came together to celebrate the local woman’s 100th birthday.
Family flew in from the United Kingdom and western Canada to mark the special occasion with a gathering at Georgetown’s Gellert Centre, the room adorned with dozens of photos illustrating Anne’s life since she was born a century ago, including memorabilia from her time in the Women’s Royal Navy.
“I’m very grateful and overwhelmed,” said the birthday girl as she took in the celebration. “I’ve just been lucky, haven’t I, to have experienced life generally.”
Anne was born June 23, 1924 in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England.
It was here she met the neighbour who became the love of her life, Tony Gauntley. As teenagers, they would often spend time playing tennis together until war was declared, then Tony joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry.
He visited Anne often in the months that followed and as their relationship blossomed, they agreed to write to each other once Tony’s regiment left for Palestine.
Anne went on to graduate from Layton Hill School and secured a job at a local dentist office, earning one pound per week. On the weekends, she volunteered with the Red Cross, where she eventually went to work full-time for two pounds per week.
In 1943, Anne joined the Women’s Royal Navy - better known as the Wrens - and began her training as an SDO (Signals Distribution Office) watchkeeper.
She was stationed in a couple different locations before being sent to the Isle of Wight to oversee and support the D-Day invasion, working tirelessly as an SDO watchkeeper in the cellars of the Pier Hotel, where she remained until June 1945, following the end of the war.
Soon after, Tony and Anne were married and went on to have four children - three born in England and one in Canada after the family immigrated here in 1957.
The journey across the ocean is one that Anne can’t forget as she and three children set out on a week-long trip aboard the RMS Sylvania to meet up with Tony, who had come to Canada months earlier to find employment and a new home.
Her oldest son, Andrew Gauntley, remembers the voyage as well.
“That was a huge, life-changing adventure during which Mum found the Irish Sea to be very rough, and the three brothers enjoyed searching the ship and finding a ping-pong table, a play room and movies to enjoy,” he said during his speech at Saturday’s celebration.
Andrew described his mother as their “rock” as they adapted to a new life in Toronto while Tony worked very hard to support the family.
The time and effort Anne invested in her children has clearly made a lifelong impact, with Andrew saying he wouldn’t be the person he is today without her “guidance and shining example.”
“Importantly, she introduced me to God and gave me so many legacy gifts, such as honesty, integrity, a love of music and my love for my grandparents,” he said.
“Mum, you are a wonderful, loving, caring mother, a beautiful person, a rare intellect who has been blessed by God with incredible wisdom. In summary, a total delight.”
With all this said, it may come as no surprise that Anne’s words of wisdom for living a long and happy life speak to the heart.
Her beautifully simple advice for everyone: “Know how to give love and how to receive it.”
