A PENSIONER who was the first bride married in a Ferryhill church has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Freda Stoddart, of the Chilton Care Centre, in Chilton, County Durham, reached her milestone birthday today (Wednesday, March 26) which she celebrated with her family.

Mrs Stoddart, who ran a small holding at Thorpe Thewles, near Sedgefield, still enjoys doing crosswords and playing dominoes.

Wendy Partridge, her daughter, said: “It’s a magnificent achievement. We are very proud of her.

“She is still fit and healthy and she is famous for her scones. She has always looked after everyone and she would look to see how she could help you.”

Mrs Stoddart is originally from Ferryhill, in County Durham, and in 1937 she became the first bride to be married at Ferryhill Baptist Church.

She moved to a smallholding at Thorpe Thewles in 1950 with her husband, George Stoddart, where they raised pigs and other animals.

They moved into The Meadows, in Sedgefield, 1986. Mr Stoddart, a former mental health nurse, died in 1989.

Mrs Stoddart moved into the Chilton care home in January last year.

She has four children Mrs Partridge, John Stoddart, Margaret Hope and Ian Stoddart, ten grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Councillor Elizabeth Bruce, mayor of Chilton, said: “It’s an achievement to reach 100 years. I think she is amazing and she is absolutely wonderful.”