ON Friday afternoon, November 23, Miss Annie Lawrence was guest of honour at a tea party arranged for her in Upleadon Village Hall. This was to celebrate her 90th birthday on November 26. The party had been organised by Mrs Dorothy Parker and Mrs Betty Vye.

The splendid tea included the traditional birthday cake with candles. Mr Gerald Draper spoke of everyone's happiness at being present for such an occasion and expressed thanks for Miss Lawrence's long active life. Mrs Hazel Berry presented an arrangement of flowers in a basket on behalf of Upleadon Over 60's Club of which Miss Lawrence is a founder member.

Miss Lawrence thanked everyone for being present and said how pleased she was to be living in Upleadon in the same house in which she had been born.

Miss Lawrence has always involved herself, as indeed did her parents, in local life. She was educated at Upleadon C of E School, Newent Grammar School and Saint Mary's College, Cheltenham. She taught at Bristol returning to Upleadon at weekends. She was appointed headteacher of Pauntley C of E School in January 1954, a post she held until retirement in July, 1974. In her retirement speech at that time she said that her years at Pauntley were the happiest of all her teaching career. In retirement she did many kind acts for those less fortunate than herself and for many years she took two elderly ladies to Newent for shopping.

Her little dog, Tess, was a familiar sight and a devoted pet.

She has been, and still is, a lifelong supporter of Upleadon Church. She was a member, and for many years secretary, of the Parochial Church Council. She was a member of the Church Flower & Sewing Guild, and a very active member of the Church Restoration Committee in the 1960's.

When Upleadon Parish Council was formed in 1971 she was one of the five elected councillors and was clerk to the council for over ten years.