HILDA Tinsley was only expected to live for an hour after her birth.

Thankfully, she proved the medical profession wrong and yesterday celebrated her 105th birthday being serenaded by the King's Division Waterloo Band in her home at Hurworth.

Telegrams also arrived from the Queen, Queen Mother, Princess Alexandra, Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Kent and the Prime Minister and local MP, Mr Tony Blair.

Born in Redcar on June 28, 1896, when Queen Victoria reigned and the Marquis of Salisbury was Prime Minister, Miss Tinsley has lived through two world wars, seen six sovereigns come and go and remembers when travelling by steam train was the height of sophistication.

Most of her life was spent in Middlesbrough where her first job, with the Sisters of Charity, was cleaning their large house at the back of Albert Park.

It was here, when she was aged 18, that one of the sisters quietly announced the onset of the First World War.

In 1917 she set to work in a munitions factory in Morecambe. On her 21st birthday, she remembers wearing a white serge suit and hairnet to protect workers from the harmful powders which had a tendency to bleach hair.

"Many of the girls deliberately left strands of hair sticking out from beneath their hairnets so they could get cheap highlights," she told the D&S Times, "but I never liked to risk it."

At the age of 43, she saw the Second World War begin and started work at the munitions factory in Aycliffe, travelling every day by steam train from Middlesbrough.

Retiring as a school cook in her early 60s, she devoted her latter years to looking after her disabled son, John, who died six years ago aged 63.

An avid Coronation Street and Emmerdale fan, Miss Tinsley also enjoys watching Inspector Morse and A Touch of Frost and never misses the TV news.

She has her hair set twice a week, shops for herself at Morrison's and looks forward to outings organised by the staff at Rockcliffe Court.

"I've never had an operation or suffered from ill-health in my life," she added.

"As long as you keep an active mind and take an interest you won't go far wrong."

A party was organised for her yesterday and on Sunday she is the guest of honour at a family lunch at Marton country club.