CELEBRATIONS in the time of coronavirus are forced to be different but family and friends of Eileen Nixon were determined to make the most of her 100th birthday.
So they organised a fire engine, a banner from the local school and villagers in North Cowton turned out to applaud the centenarian, a former magistrate and stalwart member of the village's WI.
Eileen who was born in Middlesbrough was awarded the British Empire Medal after serving as a magistrate on Teesside for over 28 years and working with Citizens Advice and the armed forces charity SSAFA for many years. She was married to husband Ron for 58 years before his death in 2004.
Mrs Nixon has three granddaughters and five great grandchildren. Granddaughter Elizabeth Hancock said: "We had a big celebration planned however obviously with social distancing that had to be abandoned. But it is such an achievement to reach 100 and to be so bright and interested in everything and so many people wanted to wish grandma a Happy Birthday we decided to walk her up to the village so they could applaud her. She is an amazing lady, has worked hard and been involved in lots of things, she is so well known in this area.
"When we asked her what it was like to be 100 she said she only feels 21."
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