ONE Newton Abbot well-known faces had a very special day recently.

Margaret Sanders and her family ran Sanders’ tobacconists and confectioners in Banks Street and later in Union Street.

Over some 49 years, generations of Newton Abbot youngsters visited the shops.

Up until January 2019 they would have spent their pocket money sampling the contents of the sweetie jars decorating the shelves of confectionary sold by Margaret, her husband Stan and their family.

Margaret currently lives in a care home in Newton Abbot, and due to Covid hasn’t been out for some time – more than two years.

Her daughter Julie said: ‘Mum celebrated her 90th birthday a couple of years ago, but due to Covid restrictions we weren’t able to have a party.

‘Things are a bit more relaxed now so we decided to have a big family gathering for her 92nd birthday.’

Margaret has four children – Julie, Marilyn and Merv, and daughter Janet who made the trip from Spain. They joined Margaret’s nine grandchildren and some of the 19 great-grandchildren for the party.

On the big day, a special taxi picked up an unsuspecting Margaret from the home and ferried her to Newton Abbot’s Recreational Trust, accompanied by carer Natalie who gave up her free time to assist.

The delighted pensioner was welcomed by more than 60 family members and friends.

There was another reason for the gathering of the clan. Margaret suffers from Alzheimers and Julie used the occasion to raise funds for the Alzheimers Society.

She said: ‘We raised £312 for the charity. Even the taxi firm R and R from Torquay kindly donated part of their fare to help.

‘It was a very special afternoon and Mum was the star. She was so well-known in the town, people are always stopping me to ask how she is. She was thrilled to be out for the very first time since March 6, 2020!’