Birthday becomes family affair as Nanette turns 70

THERE can’t be many 70 year olds in Port Elizabeth who get to celebrate their birthday not only with all three of their sisters, but also their mother – but that is exactly what Nanette Gasson is doing today.

It is the first time in 44 years that all four Griffith sisters have been together for a family birthday and they kicked off the party yesterday with a game of bingo at Laubscher Park, the Walmer retirement complex where Nanette lives.

Family matriarch Hazel Griffith, 94, is thrilled to have all four daughters together for the celebration which continues at Laubscher Park today.

Baby sister Jill Finlayson – who married last year and lives in Port Elizabeth – joined Lesley Katz, who flew in from America, and Gladys Conry, who travelled from Australia, to be at their sister’s birthday.

And Griffith does not think 95 is a particularly ripe old age, after all, she has a sister who lives in KwaZulu-Natal who is due to turn 100 next year.