Mansfield Centenerian Nora celebrates her 100th birthday with her family

Centenerian Nora was surrounded by family and friends at the Manor Hotel, Mansfield, with some guests flying all the way from Australia for her special day.

Nora, of Clumber Drive received her card from the Queen and had a special visit from the hairdresser to mark the occasion.

Mrs Saint’s first husband Basil died in 1956, they had two sons Peter John and David Allwood.

David who lives in Ladybrook and Peter John 77 who lives in Melbourne Australia with wife Gladys and daughter Kathryn were at her side on her special day

Nora married her second husband Ernest Saint in 1957 and they had a daughter Linda who lives at Skegby.

She has 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren with another on the way.

Mrs Saint, who has lived through two world wars chatted with the Chad about her younger days.

She said: “I left school on Friday and started work on Monday at the hosiery factory Seal and Turners.

“We lived in a terrace house on Victoria Street and my father was a blacksmith.

“We didn’t have much but we didn’t know anything else in those days.

Later on Nora worked for the school meals service for 14 years.

She keeps herself active and goes out every Wednesday to the local community centre.

Mrs Saint said she had seen a lot of changes in her lifetime.

“I remember we had the first television on the street.

“We got it in time for the Coronation of the Queen, but it broke down on the day.”

What is the secret of her longevity?

“I don’t smoke or drink and I have a very loving family.”