AT 101, Ella Wearmouth has one goal - to be able to look after herself for the rest of her life.
For 40 years, she has lived alone in Stanhope, Weardale, and intends to remain independent.
The retired teacher celebrated her 101st birthday on Saturday, with a host of close family members, including visitors from New Zealand.
Messages also flooded in from friends and relatives in Canada, South Africa and New Zealand.
She taught primary school pupils throughout Weardale, until retiring in 1958, following seven years in Rookhope. Her main employer was Stanhope Primary.
"I taught in every school in the Dale, except in Westgate, at one time or another," she said.
She also taught in Darlington and, on her 100th birthday, former pupils joined in the celebration.
On Saturday, she had lunch at the Helme Park Hotel, Tow Law, and the afternoon at Stanhope Methodist Church tea rooms.
Ella enjoys writing and doing crosswords and even pits her wits against the contestants on TV show Countdown. "I sometimes beat the competitors," she said.
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