INA Whiteway celebrated her 90th birthday on Friday, September 23 with friends and staff at Hillbrow Residential Care Home in Crediton.

Ina, who has lived in Crediton all her life has been a resident at Hillbrow Residential Care Home for two and a half years and is very happy there. She previously lived in Churchill Drive.

During her working like Ina worked at clerical outfitters and church furnishers Whippell & Co in Exeter sewing robes and tablecloths for churches.

She also worked at Heathcoat’s Factory in Tiverton on the sewing machines and enjoyed repairing them. She then went on to work at Bristows of Devon from where she retired.

Even after she retired, Ina liked to keep herself busy and worked for the charity Operation Sunshine for a number of years.

During that time she repaired hundreds of sewing machines which the charity sent to Africa to give people the tools to make a living from making, altering and repairing clothing.

Ina also worked as a volunteer for Devon County Council helping people with learning difficulties with their craft work at Newcombes Resource Centre in Crediton.