From adversity comes determination and a desire to bring about change, no more so than for lifelong Methodist, Hilda Widdup, who celebrated her 100th birthday on 1 July at Wesleycare Christchurch.

In her late 40s, Hilda was hospitalised with a serious infection that doctors said could see her remain there for two years. She spent five months lying on her back. Unable to move her upper arms and shoulders, Hilda took up basketwork, the one hobby she was able to pursue.

After those five months, the doctors said there wasn’t a great deal of improvement. “We lost heart. However, I was determined to walk although they told me I mightn’t.” When finally discharged after nine months, Hilda had to learn to walk again. Out of hospital, she became aware of the lack of rehabilitation services in Christchurch for people under the age of 60. With then mayoress of Christchurch, Alexia Pickering, Hilda set up a number of Handiscope branches, a programme that provides crafts to assist disabled people. Four of the early centres in Christchurch were associated with Methodist churches.

Hilda’s husband, the late Rev Bob Widdup, ministered at churches in Auckland, Christchurch and Lower Hutt. In 1976, the couple spent a year in Pontiac, United States, in a ministerial exchange. Hilda and Bob had five children.

In Lower Hutt, Hilda worked for some years in the Citizens Advice Bureau, which led to her starting a Friends at Court group to support people facing justice alone. She belonged to “a wonderful group” called Ephesus, which Bob started. Ephesus explored new ways of understanding and expressing Christian faith within the church.

Family friend, Jeff Sanders, has known Hilda for 45 years, coming into the family circle when Bob was minister at Laings Road Methodist Church. “She is a remarkable person. During WW11, she was a regular visitor to the conscientious objectors detained at Tūrangi. Her social conscience was honed at that stage. Then her life took on this ministry blend: as well her church involvement, she had a view out into the community to help people and was very active, in that sense. She’s always interested in other people, in being there for other people. Hilda holds strong views and is never afraid to express her point of view on things.”

Her family put on a big party for her 100th birthday. Relatives came from all over, including overseas, among them some of her 16 great-grandchildren.