A SPONDON woman who has lived in the same house since she was born will celebrate her 100th birthday today.
Frances Wilson's family have flown over from California and Texas to celebrate the happy occasion.
Despite having surgery for colon cancer at the age of 76 she is still going strong and looking forward to a party today.
Mrs Wilson was born at her home in Reader Street when Herbert Henry Asquith was Prime Minister and George V was on the throne.
The First World War was yet to begin and suffragette Emily Davison ran in front of the King's horse during the Epsom Derby one month after Frances was born.
Mrs Wilson, who married her second husband, John 62 years ago, said she had led a very happy life growing up in Spondon with 12 siblings.
She said: "They thought I was very funny. All my siblings were older than me but were all very kind to me.
"I worked as an errand girl for elderly people in the village. They would give me pennies which I would save up and use to buy them presents on their birthday.
"They all loved chocolate bars. So I would buy them chocolate or a bottle of lemonade."
Mrs Wilson said her father, who worked at the sewage works, was a very kind man who would make her toys.
She said: "He made me a scooter with a bell that I could press with my foot.
"He also made me a cricket bat and I'd go and play cricket with the lads. I used to get up to a lot when I was younger."
Frances met second husband John when he was a lodger at her house. He is Polish by birth and they have been married for more than 60 years.
Mrs Wilson started working at Celanese when she was 52 and later for a doctor's surgery in Spondon.
She was in her 70s when she stopped working.
Son Peter, daughter-in-law Julianna Wilson and granddaughter Alexandra Wilson flew over from north America to celebrate with her. Her eldest son, John, and his wife, Lorraine, who live in Gloucester, will also be joining in the occasion.
Mrs Wilson has two sons, three grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way.
Peter said: "My mum is one of those people who, when someone asks her to do something, she never asks for anything in return.
"She has always been an extremely fun-loving and life-loving person.
"Nothing ever got her down when we were younger and she always saw the good in people before she saw the bad.
"My dad is utterly devoted to her.
"Her last living relative, nephew Herbert Osbiston and his wife, Anne, also live in Spondon and Anne does the shopping for my mum twice a week.
"They're really good people."
And Mrs Wilson's secret to a long life? "Just be happy."
