POPULAR Chapmanslade resident Glee Baron celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, with family and friends travelling from all over the world to join her.

Mrs Baron, of Southcroft, Chapmanslade, is the mother of four children, Elizabeth, Bob, Anne and Charles, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She has lived in the village for over 50 years and started off her week-long celebrations with friends and family in a special Songs of Praise service at St Philip and St James’ Church on Sunday.

Mrs Baron will also be joined by 62 family members, including her only nephew and his family from New York, for lunch and an evening of entertainment at Bishopstrow House tomorrow.

Mrs Baron, who was a district nurse and midwife in her younger days, said: “I am very lucky to have had such a long and wonderful life and it’s fantastic that so many of my family and friends could join me to celebrate.

“The service on Sunday was lovely and I picked all the hymns myself.

“I was thrilled to receive the letter from the Queen. I have always been very interested in the Queen and the royal family, so to receive the letter was marvellous.

“I am very lucky to have such a wonderful family and it will be lovely to see everyone together on Saturday.”

Mrs Baron worked as a nurse at Royal Hampshire County Hospital until 1940, when she moved to London to do her Part One Midwifery course.

Her husband, a former vicar of Keevil, Spencer Baron, died in 1965. After spending 16 years in Keevil, Mrs Baron and her husband moved to Chapmanslade, where she continued nursing as a night sister at Bradford on Avon Hospital.

Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth Baron, said: “We are very privileged as a family to have mum as alert and involved in everything at 100.

“She’s had a remarkable life so far, which has been happy and fulfilled.

“We have all had a wonderful time coming together to celebrate this special birthday.”

The Rev Norma Payne, who was part of the Songs of Praise service, said: “Glee was thrilled and there was a tea party after the service, which was also really nice.”