GREAT grandmother Hilda Choules marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends at Easton Royal Village Hall.

Around 70 guests attended the tea party which was organised by Mrs Choules son, Ray, his wife, Carole and their daughters-in-law Jo and Veronica.

Mr Choules, who also lives in Eastern Royal, said: “She had a great time.

“A lot of her close friends she sees all the time but there were some people there who she hadn’t seen in a long time including my cousins who came from far and wide.

“She’s lived in the area all her life so she knows a lot of people and there were quite a few people from the village at the party too.”

Mrs Choules, and her twin brother Hector, were born at 55 Easton Royal opposite the chapel and were the youngest of 11 children.

Their mother died when Mrs Choules was just five-years-old and she left school in her early teens to run the household.

She married her husband, Alec, when she was 25 and moved further down the village looking after Mr Choules father, John, until he went into a nursing home.

The couple had one son, and he and his wife have three sons Glyn, Colin and Martin and four grandchildren Jacob, Elsa, Alec and Aiden.

The centenarian lived in Burbage for around 19 years before moving into Coombe End Court in Marlborough a year ago.

She enjoyed gardening with her husband, Alec and baking.

Mr Choules said: “Her cake and pie baking skills were legendary, winning many awards.

“Her flower garden was her pride and joy, growing everything herself from seed making full use of her greenhouse and giving a show stopping display for all to admire.”

Carole Choles added: “She has always been a home-maker.

“Her laundry was her pride and joy and she would look after our children on occasion.

“They would often stay with her.”