STAFF at a Budleigh Salterton nursing home helped prepare the 100th birthday celebrations of a woman born in a year when Woolworths opened its first UK store. Gladys Mary Fulls, who lives at Baycourt Nursing Home, in West Hill, was joined by family member

STAFF at a Budleigh Salterton nursing home helped prepare the 100th birthday celebrations of a woman born in a year when Woolworths opened its first UK store.

Gladys Mary Fulls, who lives at Baycourt Nursing Home, in West Hill, was joined by family members from four generations on her special, landmark day, on Friday December 18.

Born in 1909 and brought up in mid Devon, Gladys has two sons, David and Henry, six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

She married in 1936, to Bill, who died in 1992, aged 79. The couple moved to Woodbury in 1946 with their two sons.

They then moved to a farm in Alphington in 1962 where Gladys would take responsibility for most of the outdoor work, regularly supervising the milking, cream-making and grading eggs for sale.

Her son, Henry, said: "Her home made buns were a speciality and always offered, with mugs of tea, to the farming reps on their regular calls.

"Family was important to Glad, who often on Saturday afternoons would look after the grandchildren while parents did their shopping and then provide them with a superb roast meal."

Gladys was involved for most of her active life in the church which she attended.

She taught Sunday school; ran classes in a youth club, and officiated at the women's fellowship at Broadway Chapel in Woodbury for many years.

Henry said: "Hard work seems to have done her little harm and no one can remember her ever taking more than the odd day off as holiday before retirement.

"No one can remember, either, when she was ill - for she seldom was.

"Many will remember buying home made cream and dairy products from her front door. And a good diet of dairy products seemed to have done her no harm either."

Helen Densham, matron at Baycourt Nursing Home, said staff hung up balloons and prepared a buffet tea with champagne, to be enjoyed by Gladys and her family.

She added: "She is the most delightful lady and it was a lovely day.