A DRESSMAKER who has lived in the same house since she was a baby will be celebrating her 100th year this month.

Vera Bunting, of Wansfell Terrace, Ambleside, will turn 100 on September 22 and plans to celebrate with her family at the Langdale Chase for afternoon tea.

Suzi Bunting, wife to Miss Bunting’s nephew Kevin Bunting, said: “Quite a remarkable and still an independent lady is Miss Bunting.”

Miss Bunting was born in Elterwater, Langdale to Robert and Rosemary Bunting.

She attended Ambleside Church of England Girls School before leaving at the age of 14 to work at Fell Jenkinson’s Shop, which was a ladies outfitters, hairdressers, haberdashery and chiropodists.

Here, she was taught dressmaking in the cellar by Mrs Jenkinson and Mr Jenkinson taught her book keeping.

After working at the Co-op in 1939 Miss Bunting went on to work for Sanderson & Dixon’s Photographers and printers in Ambleside and it was during this time she got to be the official photographer in Ambleside, when the Queen and Prince Philip came to visit including a cruise on Lake Windermere.

Her next job was working at The Bobbin Mill, in Ambleside where she was made the company secretary.

Miss Bunting then became the secretary of Ambleside Council before being relocated, to work for Westmorland County Council, where she was appointed as the rating and valuation inspector for the area.

After six attempts Miss Bunting passed her driving test and drove a mini around the area valuing properties for the ratings office.

Miss Bunting has travelled to many places around the world including Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Sardinia, Tunisia, North Africa and she even had an audience with Pope Francis in Rome.

The centenarian revealed that she had turned down four offers of marriage and said she has many happy memories of walking the fells and seeing the sunrise from Helvellyn with friends.