A woman who was born in the North East during the First World War is today (Tuesday, July 12) celebrating her 105th birthday.

Doris Kirk was born on July 12, 1917, into a County Durham coal mining family to Robert and Sarah Clark.

The family lived in Stanley and she was the younger of two children.

Elizabeth, her older sister, was born in 1913 and passed away in 2009 at the age of 96.

Doris met farmer Joseph Kirk, from Tow Law, and married him in April 1939, months before the outbreak of the Second World War.

The Northern Echo: Doris pictured with her husband JosephDoris pictured with her husband Joseph

The couple had two daughters, Joan and Barbara, and lived at Wolsingham for six years before moving to Warton in Lancashire in 1984 which is where she has remained.

He husband died on the January 1, 2000, at the age of 85.

Doris has three grandchildren, Andrew, Andrea and Amanda, five great grandchildren, Carl, Craig, Kristiana, Ben and Rebecca, and four great great grandchildren, Lacey, Scarlett, Arthur and Eleanor, with another one on the way.

Her granddaughter Andrea said: “Doris still lives independently but has her daughter Joan and husband Eric living nearby who visit and do her shopping and help out three or four times a week.

“She has lived a happy life.”

The Northern Echo: Doris KirkDoris Kirk

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