FAMILY and friends came from far and wide to help a woman celebrate her 100th birthday.

Margery Pettigrew, who lives in sheltered accommodation at Thomas Morris House, Upton-upon-Severn, was surrounded by family and friends for her party, which was held at the nearby Corse Lawn Hotel.

Her proud daughter Katherine Harding said: “She has two children – me and my brother Timothy – four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and we all managed to be at her birthday party.

“We came from all over the place, including London, south Wales and Lancashire, and we enjoyed a really special day – my mother absolutely loved it.”

Mrs Pettigrew was born Margery Dawe in the village of St Fagans, near Cardiff. In 1940, she married Andrew Pettigrew, who came from the same village.

Before her marriage she worked for the South West Electricity Board in St Mellons, near Cardiff, but afterwards she devoted herself to her family.

The couple moved to Worcester in 1950 when her husband was appointed head of the city’s parks department. “She was very involved in the Worcester Townswomen’s Guild and was involved in a lot of their drama activities.

“They used to enter drama competitions and won some of them as well,” said Mrs Harding.

Mr Pettigrew left his mark on the city as he designed St Andrews Gardens around the spire in the city centre and also designed gardens in Gheluvelt Park.

After he retired, the family moved to Guarlford, near Malvern, where Mrs Pettigrew was well known hosting coffee mornings for various causes.

Mrs Harding said her mother enjoys meeting people, was until recently a keen painter and still completes the Daily Telegraph crossword on most days.