FRIENDS and family gathered to celebrate an 100th birthday party just before the busy Christmas period.

Connie Gamblin, nee Selway, welcomed in her 100th birthday on Wednesday, December 18, at the Monkton Inn, West Monkton.

Ms Gamblin first attended the village school and was married in the parish church in 1941. Her husband Ted Gamblin came from the neighbouring village of West Monkton. Their first marital home was a small cottage next to the church in Kingston St Mary.

Connie has two children: Christopher born in 1944 and Kathryn born in 1949.

They moved to Wellsprings, Taunton in 1952 to live in a new house with electricity, mains water and mains sewage.

Connie was employed for 23 years at the council where her horizons were widened considerably through her work in the social services department.

Ted, her husband, did not enjoy good health and died of a brain tumour in 1974 after years of illness and a few months before his retirement.

Connie then moved to a bungalow in Hope Corner Lane where she still lives enjoying her much loved home and garden. Many thanks to her small and loyal band of helpers and neighbours who enable her to continue living independently.

Connie’s life has been full of 'ups and downs', at times more 'downs' than 'ups' but she says her Christian faith has always brought her through.