A FORMER cook at a stately home has celebrated her 100th birthday with a family party.

Betty Atkinson, of Chilton Care Centre, on Durham Road, marked the anniversary today. (Monday, November 24)

She moved into the home earlier this year but in her younger years she worked at Helme Park Hall, near to Tow Law.

She said: “It’s nice to be 100 but I don’t feel any different to how I did when I was 29. I just can’t walk as well.”

Bryan Atkinson, her son, said: “We’re proud of her as a family at reaching 100-years as it’s quite an achievement.”

Mrs Atkinson was born in Cassop, near Quarrington Hill, just outside Durham, in 1914.

She worked as a cook for the Stobbart family at Helme Park and had spells at Crook and Staindrop at other homes owned by Stobbart family members.

She met her husband Thomas Atkinson when he pedalled passed her and stopped to ask her out.

They married in Quarrington Hill Church in 1936 and lived in Wolsingham until Mr Atkinson began to work for the National Coal Board and the family moved to Spennymoor.

Mr Atkinson died in 1966 and his widow later moved to Ferryhilll and then into the Chilton home.

Mrs Atkinson has four children Bryan Atkinson, Jean Seymour, Barbara Redfearn and Joyce Hatton plus 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and two great grandchildren.