A grandmother who is turning 100 has officially lived in Hertfordshire for a century.
Hilda Elizabeth Thomas is celebrating her birthday today (March 6). She told the Observer she has lived in Watford all her life and never travelled abroad.
She said: "A lot has changed in my 100 years and the world today is a very different place.
"I have never owned a passport or been on an aeroplane, but I love listening to stories of families who have travelled."
Born in Stanmore Road in Watford on March 6 in 1920, Hilda was one of six children and attended school at Callowland in Leavesden Road.
She left when she was 14 and worked in Co-op in St Albans Road.
While helping out during the war at De Havilland in Borehamwood she met William Howard Thomas, who she married in June 1943.
Hilda and her husband. Photo: UGC
She now has two children, Alan and Ann, and six grandchildren.
She later worked as a cook at Victoria School, Watford Girls Grammar School and then worked at Scammell Lorries in Tolpits Lane.
She retired when she was 60 and helped out in a number of charity shops.
Her husband died in January 2004 who she was with for 60 years.
Hilda when she was young. Photo: UGC
She moved to St Matthew's Care Home in Redbourn last year. She is partially sighted but said she has now taken up knitting again.
She added: "I don't have a secret to reaching a 100 years old but I have never smoked, drank very little and despite having a very poor childhood I have had a contented life and I take each day as it comes."
She said she will be celebrating her birthday with family and friends.
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