Ep 294 – Paddy Kennedy, Manchester Utd player in the 1950s and Mary Houghton, Britain’s oldest care-worker

In Part 1…

Paddy Kennedy was born in Dublin in 1934 and grew up to become a great footballing legend. As Irish School Boy’s captain, he led his team to victory against England at Goodison Park and around this time, was scouted for Manchester United. He went on to become one of the “Busby Babes”, young talented players, that ultimately led to the creation of the club we see today.

In 1953, he was part of the Manchester United youth team, winning the FA Youth Cup.

He played alongside Duncan Edwards, Eddie Colman and Liam Whelan before moving on to Blackburn in 1956. He went on to play for multiple teams in the late 1950s and into the 60s, but his career was cut short by injury.

We talk to his sons, Anthony and John and hear some great stories from the golden age of football.

 

In part 2…

As a 16 year old, Mary Houghton travelled from Achill to the UK in the late 1940s to find employment. She faced hardship and discrimination but forged a career in nursing, working right the way through to retirement. As she says, you can be 40 and think that you are 80 or 80, thinking that you’re 40. She’s the latter, and refusing to take the “I’ll just sit down and retire” approach, she went back to work in the care sector where she’s been for the last 30 years. Celebrating her 90^th birthday, and having just received a lifetime achievement award, we talk to Mary about her life. Often caring for people many years younger than herself, Mary’s outlook on the world should be inspirational to us all, regardless of age.

We also talk with Joshy Abraham who manages the Tudor Bank Nursing Home. He’s known Mary for a long time and has learnt so much from her wealth of knowledge.

 

For more information…

Tudor Bank Nursing Home… https://wecaregroup.co.uk

 

 

 

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Watch the Irish in the UK every Thursday night at 7.30pm on SKY 186 or Freesat 162. Repeated on Tuesday at 1 pm