TWO local women celebrated their 100th birthdays last week.

Ivy Pearce of Ruardean Hill and Dorothy Hinton of Coleford were born within a day of each other in June 1916.

Mrs Hinton was 100 on Friday (June 3) and Mrs Pearce reached the milestone the following day.

Mrs Pearce celebrated with friends at the Ruardean Woodside luncheon club where she has been a member since it started in 1984.

The club is held fortnightly in Ruardean Woodside Hall and last Wednesday (June 1) a special birthday party was held after the normal lunch with a singalong and gifts from friends.

Mrs Pearce was brought up in Steam Mills and married her husband, Sidney, at Holy Trinity Church in Drybrook in 1936.

She said: “I’ve enjoyed the afternoon very much, I’m among friends.”

Mrs Hinton enjoyed a get together with friends and family at Bell’s Hotel in Coleford on Saturday.

She attributes her long life to being raised on a farm in Raglan and the many walks she has enjoyed throughout her life.

Mrs Hinton moved to Coleford after marrying her husband Cyril, a miner, the day before war broke out in September 1939.

Mrs Hinton, who was a keen knitter, moved into The Coombs care home eight months ago.

She was one of six girls and one brother. She had two children and has three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.