HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY OF MRS ELIZABETH PORTER

That this House congratulates Mrs Elizabeth Porter who lives in Shiney Row, in Houghton and Washington East constituency, on the occasion of her hundredth birthday which falls on 23 October; notes that she was born in 1909 and that she has served as a councillor on Houghton Urban District and City of Sunderland Council and was the first woman Mayor of the City; further notes that she continues to serve in the community where she was born through her active involvement in Age Concern and the Labour Party and many other organisations and that she actively attends and contributes to meetings; further notes that as a young woman she met great figures of the Labour Movement including miners' leader, Peter Lee, and that she listened to Aneurin Bevan speak on the creation of the Health Service at Durham Miners Gala in 1947; believes that she is an inspiration to future generations; and looks forward to her continuing contribution in the years to come.