Residents of Thornham Parva honoured a woman believed to be the village’s oldest resident last week when she commemorated her 100th birthday with two events that raised over £700 for charity.
Annie Hawes celebrated her 100 year milestone on Monday, June 22, with an ‘open house’ event at the village hall, which drew more than 80 people, while bell ringers at St Mary Magdalene Church in Thornham Magna rang a quarter peal in the evening to mark the occasion.
A separate family gathering was later held on Sunday, June 28, with the money collected going towards the Marie Curie ‘Blooming Great Tea Party’ and the local St Mary’s Church, which Mrs Hawes often attended.
Christine Moore, Mrs Hawes’ daughter, said: “Everybody enjoyed themselves and it was a great chance for the family to all get together and catch up. We had never been in the same place all together until Sunday.
“She looks on the bright side of life and she has always been the carer of the family.
“She is a great mum for being useful and she is still able to do household chores.”
Born in Hestley Green, Thorndon, as the youngest of seven children, Mrs Hawes married her husband Nathaniel in June 1941 and has lived in Thornham Parva ever since.