A WOMAN from Barrow celebrated her 100th birthday last Sunday at Parkview Gardens surrounded by her family.

Elizabeth Finley, known as ‘Betsy’, enjoyed a special party at the home on Risedale Road and also received a telegram from the Queen.

She was born in a terraced house in Exmouth Street in Barrow on a cold morning on November 4, 1918.

Betsy’s father was killed during the First World War so she never saw him.

Mary Wild brought up Betsy with the help of her parents, Elizabeth and John Bray.

She grew up in Barrow and lived a happy childhood, although times were tough due to the end of the war.

She recalls times being tough when she was 12 years old due to a strike at the steelworks which lasted for some time.

However, Betsy was forced to move out of her home and to a mansion called Winsfield in May 1941.

Her house on Exmouth Street was bombed by the Luftwaffe during an air raid in the Second World War.

Barrow suffered from aerial bombardment as the shipyard, steelworks and railways were targets to stop war production.

She worked as a nun at the Convent School education in Barrow before moving to Howard Street college as a cleaner.

Betsy worked at the college for several years before retiring thirty years ago.

She was married to George Finley for over 40 years before he died aged 64.

She has seven children, 20 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren.

Her favourite hobby was having a ball in the old United Club on Friars Lane, taking part in line dancing.

Betsy also loved old time dancing at the conservative club in Barrow and enjoyed seaside holidays to Blackpool and Morecambe with her family.

Christine Inman, Betsy’s daughter, said he party was a brilliant day and all the family enjoyed themselves.

She said: “Getting to 100 is a fantastic achievement and we wanted to do something special for her.

“Our family live all over the country, so it has taken a lot of organisation, but it was worth it.”

She added: “All the family, including all the many grandchildren she has, came to wish her happy birthday.

“Betsy had a great time too, she was tired towards the end but it was superb.”

“I would like to thank Parkview Gardens for letting us have such a big party and for looking after my mum for the last eight years.”