A LANDMARK birthday was celebrated in style this week as one of the district’s residents reached 100 years old.

Anne Barclay Thomson Auchinachie, known as Nan, was born on January 13, 1920, and reached her century milestone at Charlotte Straker House in Corbridge on Monday.

Nan was born and raised in Aberdeen, and she married there and worked in a bank security department, as a PA to the security manager, for all of her working life, which she said she enjoyed.

Having lived in Aberdeen until around nine years ago, Nan made the decision to move to Hexham to be closer to her family as she felt she needed more support.

Having originally lived in Acomb Court care home, she moved to Charlotte Straker last year.

Despite having Parkinson's, Nan enjoyed an active life socialising with family up until around 18 months ago, and although she no longer manages to get out and about, she still enjoys regular visits from her niece and cousins’ children.

“It means I am able to talk part in things with my family which is nice. That’s why I moved here,” she said. “They do an awful lot for me.

“And it’s nice in here too. They do a lot with the residents.”

Family gathered with her for an early birthday party on Sunday, while a party put on by Charlotte Straker, attended by the residents, took place on Monday.

Nan explained that, as a royalist, she had been looking forward to receiving a card from the Queen for her birthday.

Commenting on the secret to a long life, she said: “I think it has a lot to do with your early years.

“Fresh air and good food – we always ate well.”

She also enjoyed horse riding when she was younger, and said that compliments on her good skin were thanks to Nivea face cream.