Ethel is 100

A party was held in the hall of Beulah Baptist church where everyone from two and a half year old Paddy Reigh through to Ethel herself took the opportunity to show their appreciation of this milestone event.

The party was organised by Joan Reigh, who is Ethel's niece, in advance of the big day itself, Friday December 18.

She said of her aunt: "She is very easy going, she has a good sense of humour, and is contented."

Ethel has lived in the High Beech rest home in Dorset Road for 22 years, having originally gone in suffering heart problems, but instead responding to the "wonderful care" given her there.

She was born in the St Pancras area of London, and as Ethel Garrod was younger sister to Win and Gladys, and had a brother Jack.

From the age of 20 she worked at St Dunstan's home for the blind, where she taught residents how to make camouflage nets, and she stayed their for 30 years.

She married Alf Howard and the couple lived in North London before moving to Formby in Lancashire to follow Alf's job for Otis elevators.

Afterwards they moved south to be near their family in 1982.

Joan commented of the family party: "It's lovely...there's some of my cousins I haven't seen in a long time. Some have come from Yorkshire, London, Bournemouth, and Newark. It's a lovely family get-together. I have been planning this for ages, and now we have got here. After we have eaten the children are going to play the clarinet and flute, and we are going to sing Happy Birthday and have cake - and I think then I am going to get all emotional."