THERE were celebrations at Townsend House in Mitcheldean recently when Alice Halford celebrated her 100th birthday.

Staff and members of her family joined in wishing her many happy returns.

"She was born in Blakeney as one of eight children, four boys and four girls, and attended Blakeney Hill, School until she was 14," said relative Mrs Joan Halford, who lives in Bream.

"The family moved from Blakeney to Danby Lodge, Yorkley, where they farmed some 30 acres attached to the lodge.

"At 14, like so many young girls at that time, Alice went into service, starting at the bottom order of the house and finally working her way up to cook. She worked at some of the fine houses in Bristol and the Midlands, her last house being Wick in Birmingham.

"During this time Alice met and fell in love with a young man named Stanley and planned to marry but sadly this was not to be – in 1939 war broke out and everyone's life changed, and sadly Stanley was killed in action.

"After Alice's father died her mother and two bachelor brothers moved to Valley Road, Cinderford, and Alice left service to keep house for them.

"She soon became a very popular lady in Valley Road. Everyone was made welcome with a cup of tea when they visited, and a large slice of home-made cake or apple pie. She was soon known to everyone as Aunty Alice.

"She had a generous heart and a lot of love to give – this also extended to the many stray cats she fed."

Alice's eldest brother Bill died in a mining accident at Eastern United and she continued to look after her brother Arch, who died at the age of 98. Herself in her 90s Alice lived a while with relatives but later moved to Townsend House where she now stays.