Bridging the generations
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Joan Kirkham may be 100 but she still has a few tricks up her sleeve.
The active bridge player turned 100 on September 2 and she celebrated a day earlier with her fellow players at the North Shore Bridge Club where she plays weekly.
She was a fan of bridge when she was younger but it wasn't until her husband died 18 years ago that she took up playing properly.
Ms Kirkham has also played bowls, researched genealogy and reads a lot but bridge is still her biggest hobby.
"I love it," she says.
The Hillcrest resident doesn't have any trade secrets to making it to the milestone birthday.
"I didn't do anything, I just went on living."
Ms Kirkham was born in Marton but moved to Auckland at age seven.
She worked as a personal assistant at the Auckland Star who paid for her to further her studies at the Brains Business College.
After marrying in 1939 she had four children, three of whom are still alive.
She also has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ms Kirkham also celebrated her birthday with family on Saturday at her daughter's house, next door to where she lives with her son Bruce.
He says his mother is still very independent and climbs the stairs to bed every night.
"She still takes the walk in her stride."
Mr Kirkham says he hopes he's inherited his mum's genes."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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