THE SECRET to a long life is never getting married and always having sherry when you want it, according to one of the region’s oldest women.

Surrounded by friends, popular Rae Scott celebrated her 103rd birthday at the Gardens care home in Darlington today (Wednesday February 5).

The former deputy headteacher shared memories of her rich past before enjoying cake with fellow residents and friends.

Born in Hebburn, Miss Scott graduated from Newnham College in Cambridge in 1932 and went on to teach in schools across the North-East, eventually becoming deputy head of what is now Hummersknott Academy in Darlington.

She was teaching at Newcastle Church High School for Girls when its pupils were evacuated to Alnwick Castle during WWII.

The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland gave up their castle home and allowed the schoolchildren to live there during the war, supervised by teachers including Miss Scott.

She said: “It was very nice, we had the castle to ourselves and had the run of it and it was very posh.”

She spent many years living and travelling the world with close companion and fellow teacher Mabel and fondly remembers trips to Switzerland and Austria.

Fiercely independent, Miss Scott stayed in her own home until she was 100 and drove until she was 96.

She said it was unbelievable to think she was now one of the region’s oldest women, saying: “I’ve seen a lot of changes in my life but I don’t feel old yet, I’m still young at heart.

“I would tell today’s young people to do their own thing and go their own way in life.”

Friend and former neighbour Brian Dobinson, who has known Miss Scott for all of his life, said: “She is fantastic and a remarkable woman in the way she has lived her life so independently.

”She is incredibly intelligent and has always had such an interest in the world around her.”