Midwife Mary Boylen Celebrates 102nd Birthday

Around South Bank, Midwife Mary Boylen was affectionately known as ‘the lady on the bike’. Mary is a past parishioner of St. Peter’s Church, South Bank, and on on Sunday, June 27 she made a visit back to the church she loved. She was born on June 27, 1908 when King Edward VII was on the throne; was almost four when the Titanic made its ill fated maiden voyage in April 1912; six when the Great War broke out in 1914 and ten when women were first allowed to vote in 1918.

Mary was celebrating her 102nd birthday and at the end of the Mass she was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the parish by Alex Mackie. Mary is best remembered in South Bank for her work as a district midwife and was fondly remembered as ‘the lady on the bike’. St. Andrew’s Parish Priest, Fr. Edmond Gubbins, congratulated Mary on her birthday and told her that she was very welcome back to St. Peter’s Church before telling the congregation the she probably delivered many of today’s parishioners.

Mary is pictured receiving a bouquet of flowers from St. Andrew’s parishioner, Alex Mackie, and with some members of the present day congregation after Mass on the day of her 102nd birthday. Photos by Paul Terry.