A WOMAN who lived through two world wars, saw the fall of the British Empire and the birth of the internet has celebrated her 103rd birthday.

Gladys Hinchcliffe enjoyed a day of tea and cake surrounded by family and friends as she celebrated her special day.

A true Barrow woman through and through, Mrs Hinchcliffe was born in 1913, and grew up in Risedale Road.

After leaving school at 16, she, like thousands of other men and women went to work for Vickers in the shipyards.

Mrs Hinchcliffe said: "We all worked there, I worked in the blade shop."

During her time at the yard Mrs Hinchcliffe would have seen some of the finest vessels in the Royal Navy built.

The aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Indomitable were both laid down during her time in the yard.

During her time in the yards she met her future husband John, although he was always known as Jack.

Mr Hinchcliffe passed away 12 years ago, but Mrs Hinchcliffe remembers very fondly the 65 years they spent together as husband and wife.

She said: "It was a very happy marriage."

As a course of her marriage she had a son, Geoffrey, and a daughter,Anne.

She also is lucky to have five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, with the youngest just six years old.

At the Risedale Carehome in Abbey Road where Mrs Hinchcliffe lives now, she enjoys a far more relaxed life compared to the sparks and noise of the shipyards.

At her birthday party, Louise Brown, her great niece was alongside her to celebrate.

Mrs Brown said: "It's fantastic to celebrate such a long life. It's amazing that her mind is still there, and she even makes her own bed in the morning."

Mrs Hinchcliffe is a staff favourite at Risedale, with her strong spirit and sense of independence always a joy to witness.

Mrs Brown continued: "She's still got such a good sense of humour."

To mark her birthday Mrs Hinchcliffe received three large bouquets of flowers from members of her family who couldn't make it in person.

Having a big family, and great grandchildren who have gone to university is something that brings a smile to her face.

She said: "I'm very proud of my family."

Before she moved in to Risedale, Mrs Hinchcliffe spent some time living in Spain with her family, but decided to come back as she missed her hometown, and all the familiar sights and sounds.

She said: "I'd always lived there, I knew the place so well."

Mrs Hinchcliffe laughed as she said there was no great secret to living so long, not even having a nip of whiskey before bed time.

However, she did have some advice for the younger generation who might want to grow up too fast.

She said: "I wish I was still young, when you are young you say you want to be older, but I can tell you, you don't!

"I've enjoyed my life. I've really had a good life."