A KIRKBY Lonsdale resident is set to mark her 100th birthday on Saturday in the company of a large gathering of her family and friends.

Connie Chambers was born on August 11, 1918 and spent her formative years in Battersea, South London.

Sadly, when she was just eight-years-old, her mother was killed in an accident. Connie then had to spend much of her time looking after brothers Harry and George.

Money was tight in the family and there were some days when she was unable to attend school because of a lack of shoes.

However, she overcame these difficulties and on leaving school she got a job with C&A in Oxford Street, where she rose to the position of chief clerk.

When war was declared she joined the RAF and for the duration, she served with 11 group fighter command in its signals office.

Directly after the war she married Edgar, whom she had met a year or two earlier while he had been on leave.

They lived in South London, becoming active with their local church and scout group.

They moved to Surrey in 1963 where they continued church and scouting activities.

Next, they moved to Dent in 1981 and Edgar died a few months later. Nevertheless, Connie became an active member of the church serving on the PCC, helping with playgroup and a range of fundraising activities.

She moved to The Gables retirement home in Kirkby Lonsdale in 2010 where son Richard said that she has been ‘well cared for and spoiled rotten ever since’.

She has two grandsons, Simon and Jon, two great granddaughters and two great grandsons. Her younger brother, George, is aged 96 and is still alive.

For her birthday, she will enjoy a lunch with her immediate family and then a ‘drop-in’ celebration which is anticipated to attract around 100 people.

Son Richard said: “She has always been interested in people. She gets on well with the other residents at the home. She’s quite a personable person.”

He added that his mother was as active as a 100-year-old could be and walked three times around the home every day.