IT was a weekend of celebration for a Worcester resident who marked her 100th birthday with friends and family .

Gladys Spreadbury was surrounded with familiar faces yesterday as she enjoyed a party to mark her magnificent milestone at Red Hill Court Care Home, on London Road.

Mrs Spreadbury was born in Mountain Ash in Wales and was the older sister to three brothers. She left school at the age of 13, and went to work

as a servant at the house of Lord Aberdare.

After that she moved to London, before returning north to Malvern, where she continued to work as a servant.

Mrs Spreadbury married her husband Thomas in 1937, and had three children - two sons and a daughter. She now has four grandchildren as well

as five great grandchildren.

In 1951, she came to the Faithful City, where she lived in Carlisle Road, Ronkswood, until 1985, when she moved to Bilford Court.

She then moved to Red Hill in March 2003.

On the day of her birthday, on Tuesday last week, one of her brothers and his wife and her eldest nephew visited her.

"I don't remember much about her, when we were growing up - she was a lot older than me - but she's certainly seen a lot," said her brother Christopher, who is aged 84.

Helen Widger, Red Hill Court Care Home manager, said Mrs Spreadbury had thoroughly enjoyed her party.

"There were about 35 guests who all tucked into a cake and a buffet," she added.