A PAIR of twins who farmed at opposite ends of the county have celebrated their 100th birthday together.

Hazel Farr and Cecil James were two of six children who grew up in the Michaelchurch area in a time when there was no television, radios or transport into Hereford.

Cecil fondly remembers having to walk cattle from Wellington down the now A49 into Hereford for the cattle market.

The twins were two of six children who were brought up by their mother- who was made a widow when the children were young.

In those days walking was there only method of transport.

Hazel started her career in nursing at 18 years old in child's nursing firstly before becoming a general nurse for several years. She went on to work in two hospitals before becoming a midwife in Longtown- a role she held for over six years.

After meeting her husband Hazel became a farmers wife near Grosmont and raised three children named Janet, Norman and Alison.

"I think one of the things that has helped me live so long is that I am interested in people," said Hazel.

"I enjoyed everything in life and what I really wanted was to become a midwife and I enjoyed looking after my children. I saw Cecil on Sunday and we had a chat and shared some good memories."

Meanwhile Cecil went to live with relatives in Wellington when he remembers walking the cattle into Hereford for the market.

He went on to be part of the Shropshire Yeomanry with the reserves before joining the war effort in 1942 working in North Africa including Palestine and Egypt. After the war he went on to work as a farm manager for his brother near Pembridge.

He remained at the Pembridge farm into his older years and still walked around the 350-acre farm every day into his 70s and also enjoyed riding point to point events.

Cecil puts his grand age down to hard work and keeping fit which means he can still walk independently.