Two Houghton-le-Spring residents are celebrating their respective one-hundredth birthdays after decades of friendship.

Evelyn Curry and Moira Boundy, both of Houghton Le-Spring, are marking their birthdays within weeks of each other after meeting as girls in primary school.

Evelyn, who will reach the milestone on February 16, admitted: “It doesn’t feel any different” upon reaching her birthday and didn’t think she’d be someone who lives to 100.

Asked what the secret was to long life, Evelyn said: “You’ve just got to look after yourself. I think sometimes it’s in your genes.”

Evelyn, born in 1923, spoke of her 25-year hobby of yoga and swam regularly until she reached 93.

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Friends of the birthday girls, including Marion Sleeman, met Evelyn at a local church.

Marion said: “She does very well. She’s a very nice lady. She’s a lady.”

The Northern Echo: Evelyn Curry from Houghton le Spring who is celebrating her 100th birthday Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTEvelyn Curry from Houghton le Spring who is celebrating her 100th birthday Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT (Image: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Mary Harris, another friend of Evelyn, said: “To think two hundred years old still know each other, I think that’s wonderful.”

Space4, a community project in the small parish of Houghton Le-Spring, put together a celebration for the ladies.

Beth Weedon from Durham, an organiser at Space4, was one of the volunteers that brought the day together.

Beth said: “It’s such a lovely group. Everybody’s been talking about this for weeks, leading up to it, knowing it was coming.”

Daniel Alcock, operations manager at Space4 told us he was inspired by the pair.

He said: “So many people now think they have to move houses and move region to pursue a career but actually, here’s a story of two people who have had a really good life sticking within a few miles of each other.”

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The Reverend Rector John Barron of St Michaels and All Angels Church was also present at the celebrations to offer blessings and prayer upon the ladies marking their birthday.

He said: “We look back over 100 years and think about all the change that’s taken place, that’s absolutely amazing and to have memories that go back to the 20’s and the war years.”

The Reverend held a prayer of thanksgiving for the group, and a cake was cut to mark Evelyn and Moira’s special day.