ONE of the first residents of a North-East town celebrated her 100th birthday with her family yesterday.
Edith Buckton's father, George Thompson, built the first house in the Whaggs Park area of Whickham, Gateshead, and she lived there with her family for almost 96 years.
Only briefly did she move to a house across the road, also built by her father, as the family expanded rapidly, before returning to the home.
After a lifetime of working, first as a postwoman and then as a cook at various places in and around Whickham, she retired at the age of 75.
Four years ago, she moved into the Rydale Nursing Home, in Darlington, to be near her only daughter, May Bacon.
Mrs Bacon said her mother had celebrated at the home and received a card from television presenter Mike Neville, who became a friend after they lived nearby.
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