A RETIRED dinner lady served up a whole load of memories when she celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday.

Mrs Ethel Staton, of Four Seasons Nursing Home, Breightmet, received a message from the Queen to commemorate the special occasion, and celebrated with a party with family, friends.

The great grandma who was born in Harwood, attended school at Christ Church in Harwood, before working in the Red Bridge area.

Later she became a dinner lady at Castle Hill school in Tonge Moor.

A widow, Mrs Staton had two daughters, one of who died in a flat fire in South Africa seven years ago.

She has two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Her daughter, Joyce Hurst, said: "My mother always says the secret to her long life is 'you always have to keep on going'.

"She is a strong willed lady and very caring.

"She has lots of wonderful and vivid memories from a different era. She is a wonderful mother."