A BIG balloon and bunting outside reminded villagers at Zeal Monachorum that it was Mrs Mollie Wood's 100th birthday on Tuesday, August 13.

From Clifon-Upon-Dunsmore, a village in Warwickshire not far from Rugby, Mrs Wood worked for Boots the Chemist for 24 years and used to travel for the company.

She married Bill and their three sons were all born in Warwickshire. After Bill died, Mrs Wood moved to her present home in Zeal Monachorum in 1985 because she had friends farming not far away.

Mrs Wood became a member of Zeal Women's Institute, members of which visited on her birthday morning with a big bouquet and a card to add to the many she had received.

She is a member of the Tuesday Club and a "legendary" skittle player.

Hers is an extremely scattered family with two sons in New Zealand and one in Thailand.

Mrs Wood's seven grandchildren are more scattered. She also has nine great grandchildren and one great, great grand daughter.

On achieving her birthday, Mrs Wood said she had always been very happy. "Everybody here has been very kind to me, I was a perfect stranger," she said.

Mrs Wood added that she had a good family on whom she had always been able to call.

Sue Read