Supercentenarian Profile

Alice McNicholl

Born:

1915-10-09

Liverpool, Lancashire, England

United Kingdom

Current Residence:

Klemzig, South Australia

Australia

Alice McNicholl (née McCabe) is a British-born Australian supercentenarian. Her age is currently under review by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Alice McNicholl was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK, on 9 October 1915. She was one of 10 children and learned to sew from a young age, a skill that would later become both a career and a lifelong hobby. Although she never participated in sports herself, she was a passionate ballroom dancer and always enjoyed watching sports, particularly soccer. She became a supporter of Liverpool Football Club at the age of 10 and regularly attended matches with her father on Saturdays.

At the age of 16, Alice began working at the Mersey Bedding and Upholstery Factory in Liverpool. She also began regularly traveling to Blackpool with a group of friends on weekends. One of these friends, William “Bill” Sidney McNicholl, had also started working at the factory at the age of 16, and the two began dating. At the age of 23, Alice and Bill married in a large ceremony at St Anne’s Church in Liverpool. Drawing on her sewing skills, Alice made her own wedding dress as well as the four dresses for her bridesmaids.

Bill was a member of the Territorial Army, and when World War II broke out in 1939, he was called up to the regular army. He served away from home for seven years, leaving only a few weeks before the birth of their first son. During the war, the family home was bombed, and in the aftermath, Alice found it difficult to find work in upholstery. In 1956, the family emigrated to Australia aboard the Australia as part of the Australian Government’s post-war migration program.

She worked at Jaffers Furniture in Port Adelaide for 12 years before moving to David Jones, where she remained employed until she reluctantly retired due to compulsory retirement regulations. After retiring from paid employment, Alice continued sewing voluntarily, particularly making wedding dresses for friends. Upon retirement, Alice and Bill moved to Queensland. Alice continued to live independently, with some support from her family, until she moved into residential care at the age of 107.