A HEREFORDIAN who, at 10 years old, scrubbed doorsteps when money was scarce has celebrated her 100th birthday with a bar of chocolate and a telegram from the Queen, writes SOPHIE BIGNALL.

Edith Richards put on her Sunday best and enjoyed a special birthday party with friends and family.

Today, after years of hard work and spending her time looking after others, Mrs Richards is enjoying the restful atmosphere at Leominster and District Nursing Home.

Mrs Richards is featured in a book by John Pollard entitled 'No County to Compare' in which the author describes his life in Herefordshire between the wars.

Mr Pollard's family owned Walmsley's (where Lloyds Bank in High Town is now) and Mrs Richards was the family's maid and was often left in charge of the children. Many years later when a member of her family was reading the book they noticed the reference to Mrs Richards and her sister Amy and wrote to Mr Pollard who contacted Mrs Richards and the pair met up to reminisce.

Married in 1925, Mrs Richards and her husband William - an agricultural worker - settled in Preston Wynne. The couple went on to have three children William, Jean and Derek (deceased) and nowadays Mrs Richards, or Granny Great as she is known to younger members of the clan, has four grandchildren and five great grand children.

After living independently in Hampton Bishop, and Stretton Sugwas, Mrs Richards also cared for her brother, Hayward until he died in the mid 90s and nursed an elderly uncle in his time of need.

Her son Bill revealed her secret to a long and happy life. He said: "A sense of humour and a daughter and son-in-law who have been so supportive as well as hard work. And if she has got some bread and dripping she is happy!"