Our beloved 100-year-old Sonia was born April 21, 1924 in the small community of Whitley Bay, Northumberland. She was the only child of the Bell family. The Bells moved to Newcastle on Tyne when she was about 5 years old, where Sonia started her schooling. A nasty incident occurred when Sonia was 11. She was unfairly “thumped” by a teacher — and consequently her mother moved her to a private school.

In 1940 with the war underway, Sonia (then 15) obtained her school leaving certificate. In those days, it was expected that youth begin working at that age, so Sonia took a course in shorthand and typing and went to work in her uncle’s accounting firm. Her clerical experience here also taught her to do auditing. As the war was on, everyone took extra roles. Sonia became a volunteer with both the Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance services. Twice weekly she served at these posts, as well as once a week at the hospital. She wished she had become a nurse!

Because of its shipbuilding facilities, Newcastle was heavily bombed in the early part of the war, but later London became the major target. How did Sonia’s family deal with the bombing? They didn’t have room in their garden for an Anderson Shelter, but they had a steel table to protect them — or Sonia would hide with her mother under the stairwell in their home. (Sonia’s father, a veteran of the First World War, was out doing Warden duty). Despite these hardships, Sonia grew up finding pleasure in her young life.

Sonia met her first husband, John Atkinson, in 1940. He had been in the army but was invalided out due to pneumonia (which was then a more serious disease as treatment was so limited). They married in 1944 and had their first child, Penny, in 1945, followed by son Michael in 1947. That same year, like many Britons who were finding their country depleted, emigrated to Canada. They found transport on a cargo ship carrying only 12 passengers and disembarked in St. John, New Brunswick, on December 13, 1947. (The St. Lawrence river was frozen, hence their arrival in the Maritimes). From there they flew to Montreal where a couple they had known in England found them a place to live in Cartierville, Quebec.

Sonia’s husband John was an accountant and was quickly able to find a job, ending up at Price-Waterhouse. Sonia found her schooling in French paid off in Quebec as she could make herself understood well enough to get by. But John seemed to be restless, though. He found a job in London, England, and moved the family back to Britain in 1952 . Their son Richard was born there. They first lived in Dulwich Village and later in Romney, Kent, in a newly-developed housing estate.

In 1953, John was offered a job as a national director of finance at African Oxygen in Johannesburg, South Africa — which led to yet another family move. As Sonia said, in those days you just followed your husband wherever his job led him. But Sonia loved this new setting. She had a lovely home and a nanny/cook to help with the children, as well as a houseboy for the outside work. Sonia’s daghter Margaret was born while they lived in Johannesburg. Sonia was fond of their nanny Martha, and took her to family gatherings where Martha would be the only black person present.

For reasons not shared with Sonia, her husband’s job was not working so the family returned to England. Things were tight financially but eventually her husband got a job working at Trevelyan Estate run by the National Trust. They lived at Wallington Hall village in that area. The two older children took jobs: Michael as a farm labourer, and Penny as a dental assistant. Sadly, John was let go from that job, and the family went back to Wallsend. Sonia now needed to work — and she found a clerical job in a clothing factory.

Early one morning in 1966, Sonia found police at her door who told her that her husband had committed suicide in a park nearby. He had taken an aspirin overdose. She had to then tell her children this awful news. This was, as Sonia stated, the lowest point of her life. After the death of his father, Sonia’s son Michael emigrated to New Zealand.

Sonia had good friends in Vancouver and they encouraged her to emigrate — so she and Penny with the two younger children moved yet again. Friends in Vancouver helped them find a rental apartment. Almost immediately, Sonia found a job working for an international importing company. Her role involved dealing with their many financial transactions. Penny at age 21, headed off to New Zealand.

Sonia attended the Vancouver Unitarian church in the 1970’s and knew Isabelle Ennis. It was through her Unitarian connections that Sonia was invited to the dinner/dance event where she met Don Mackrow who worked with the Grosvenor Development firm. They connected immediately and were married in 1980. He had two teenage daughters from his previous marriage who were very welcoming to Sonia .

This marriage was a very happy time for the couple. Sonia’s family managed to stay in touch despite geographic separation. Sonia’s beloved Don died suddenly in 2009, after a very happy 10 years of marriage.

Sonia’s son Richard was engaged in the oil business working out of Brazil. Sonia and one of her granddaughters visit him and his wife in their home near Rio. Then came the shattering news that Richard had been murdered in his own home! Despite efforts made to find the people responsible, no one was ever identified. Richard was brought to Canada for burial in a West Vancouver cemetery. Daughter Penny died in New Zealand in early 2024.

When Sonia celebrated her 100th birthday on April 21st of this year, her son Michael and his family came from down under to celebrate.

Sonia has withstood so many challenges in her life but she continues to live with the pleasures she has found in her present life. She lives alone in her lovely apartment, having help only from a cleaner and someone to drive her for groceries. She cooks for herself and socializes at church and with the NSUC book club. She still has her piano, which she learned to play in her childhood years. When the church pianist was absent, Sonia was a ready stand in. Sonia says “ I must get back to playing it” That’s our Sonia!