An Ingelby Barwick resident has celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her friends and family.

Ethel Almond, a resident at Ingleby Care Home, was joined by family, friends, staff and pupils from St Therese Primary School, who presented her with homemade birthday cards.

The former school cook was also attended by Ingleby Barwick Town Mayor and Councillor Stefan Barnes during her centenary celebrations.

Carol Singleton, Home Manager at Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, said: “Ethel is one of our oldest residents but she only joined us in 2016 – after a short stay while her daughter was on holiday.

“She enjoyed her time here so much she decided to stay and is now one of the biggest characters in the home. She’s full of life and really enjoyed celebrating her birthday.”

Ethel was born in London in April 1917. 

After leaving school she worked in a sewing shop in Piccadilly, before marrying her husband at 22 and moving to Scotland. 

She was married for 27 years and had two children when she was widowed at the age of 49. 

Following the death of her late husband, Ethel moved to Middlesbrough and took a job as a pot washer in a local school, as a way of overcoming her depression. She retired at 65 after working her way up to school cook.

At 80, Ethel was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. In choosing to fight the cancer, she said: “You’re never too old. It’s only over if you think it’s over.”

In 2016, she planned a one week stay at Ingleby Care Home while her daughter went on holiday, but chose to stay at the home, where she lives today.