A FORMER farm worker who helped to run the management for her family’s business has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Anne Saunders, of Willington, marked the occasion today (Monday, July 21) with a party at the Parklands Care Home.

Her neice Christine Pickard said: “It’s an amazing achievement to reach 100-years and we’re very proud of her.”

One of seven children she was born in Heighington to Richard and Annie Hewitson.

The family soon moved to a farm at Willington Hall, Willington, where Mrs Saunders’ grandfather farmed.

Together with her brothers Christopher and Charlie and sisters Mary, Rachel, Nelly and Ethel she went to Willington Church of England School.

When she left, she worked on the family farm looking after the hens before she moved in to a farm management role.

She married Horace Saunders, who worked for the Milk Marketing Board, at St Stephen’s Church, in Willington, in 1952.

They moved to the Chester-le-Street area and later Whitley Bay where Mrs Saunders worked in a garage.

The couple, who had no children, moved to Durham then in the early 1990s returned to Willington. Mr Saunders died in 1994.

Mrs Saunders who moved into Parklands in 2011 enjoys sewing, art crafts, dancing and gardening.