At 100 years old, she’s probably the country’s oldest Liverpool fan, and she is still going strong.
Marie Golding from Athlone recently celebrated her 100th birthday, but says she still feels like a spring chicken.
She celebrated with family and friends on New Year’s Eve with a Liverpool-themed bash and says: “I actually feel younger than 100, I am still highly active.”
Ma Golding, as she is affectionately known, is originally from District Six, and moved to Sunnyside first and later to Silvertown, where she’s been for the past 60 years.
The jolly ouma is a die-hard Reds supporter and on videos from her party, which were shared on social media, she can be seen dancing at her Liverpool themed party.
“I love Liverpool, they are the best team. They do not fight and they pray before every game.
“Also, my grandfather was German,” she says, a nod to the English champions’ coach Jurgen Klopp.
Her birthday kicked off with a morning walk to the St. George’s Anglican Church, where she received holy communion and a gift of flowers.
A drive-by celebration followed at her Appledene Road home, where family and friends stopped outside to wish her a happy birthday and drop off her presents.
Her secret to a long life is simple: eat healthy and exercise.
“I used to walk to Athlone and Rondebosch. I enjoyed my walks until 90, I then had a hip operation and that made me stop those walks. I always eat my porridge early and I also enjoy eating stews, which I grew up with,” she says.
Ma Golding worked at a cigarette factory until she got married.
“My husband was in the army and after we got married, he made me stop working and I became a housewife.”
She had eight children, three of whom have passed on, as well as 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Derrick, her youngest son, looks after Ma Golding in their Silvertown home.
“She is a family person. She likes being around her family a lot and she is not happy with Covid-19 preventing the family from visiting frequently,” he says.
Ma Golding uses a hearing aid but surprisingly, she can still see without her spectacles.
She travelled quite a bit in her younger days and says not being able to travel is what she regrets most about growing older.
“I have been to Zimbabwe and Australia. I wanted to go to New Zealand where my other daughter is, but due to age they did not allow me,” she says.
Ma Golding keeps busy by reading and watching news and sport on TV.
She was overjoyed when Liverpool won the Premier League last year after a 30-year drought and says her team will definitely beat Manchester United come Sunday.
“Manchester is not playing good football and no one knows how they got to the number one spot. Liverpool will be above them after Sunday’s fixtures.”
Spoken like a true Reds fan!
velani.ludidi@inl.co.za