A CENTENARIAN who says “life is for living” has celebrated her 100th birthday with a tea party.

Betty Hindmarsh, who lives at Don Thomson House Residential Care Home, in Low Road, Dovercourt, celebrated her birthday with the team and fellow residents at the care home.

She said: “Life is for living, there’s no point in being sad. Live your life as if it’s your last day.”

The centenarian, who was described having an amazingly positive attitude, was born in Somerset in 1920.

She said she worked at the Westminster Bank before being called up for war service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

“I travelled to many parts of the country, but the War Office in London was the scariest place to work during the Blitz,” she added.

When Betty was 20, she met her future husband, George, in Somerset, when he was stationed at her uncle and aunt’s farm after being rescued from Dunkirk. She said they had to wait until the war was over before marrying.

They had three children Mary, Elizabeth and John and when the children had all grown up, Betty spent many years working at Ramsey School, now know as Two Village Primary School, in Mayes Lane, Ramsey.

Betty recalls having a lovely life in Dovercourt from the time when George worked for HM Customs and Excise and they were both involved in various clubs and organisations in the town. George died in 1986.

Betty has five grandchildren as well as six great-grandchildren.

Betty said she loves nothing more than spending time knitting for her family and last year she knitted every single member a scarf, more than 50 in total.

Ann-Marie Greenhalgh, activities co-ordinator at the home, said: “Betty is always so happy. She is always smiling and when you tell her she makes your day, she always says ‘Life is for living’.”