FORMER mill worker Gertrude Whitaker celebrated her 100th birthday with a glass of sherry this week.

Mrs Whitaker, who lives at Town End Residential Centre, Cross Hills, said the occasional glass of sherry, along with good food and keeping busy, was part of her recipe for a long life.

She spent her birthday yesterday with friends and family being entertained by a band. And on Sunday she will be in Steeton surrounded by her two children, five grandchildren - including Diane Davis, who flew in from Doha in the Middle East - and eight great-grandchildren.

Mrs Whitaker was born in Newcastle and moved to Sutton at the age of 15 where she worked in the textile mill, Bairstows.

A talented needlewoman and artist, who until recently still made her own clothes, she spent her days in the mill and her evenings making clothes.

Her husband, Arnold, played the saxophone and was well known in Skipton as a member of the Savona Dance Band.

"He used to play three times a week at the Black Horse in Skipton. I liked to dance and would dance a lot," she said.

The couple were married in Sutton and had two children, Rita and Malcolm.

Malcolm continued his father's love of music and as a child toured Butlin's holiday camps playing his trumpet and eventually became a member of Skipton Brass Band.

Mrs Whitaker, who has never been abroad but travelled the country with her husband in a caravan, said she had always kept busy.

"I've been a seamstress, a painter, a knitter and I've done basket making, I've never stood idle," she said.

But she believed today's children no longer enjoyed themselves.

"Children have really changed. They don't live a child's life anymore, they grow up too quick. I think it's very sad."