A CENTENARIAN was among the specially invited guests to a major Royal Air Force (RAF) anniversary event in Durham.

Gwen Weston, aged 100, attended the RAF100 parade celebrations conducted by hundreds of Air Training Corps’ (ATC) cadets and serving personnel in Durham City on Saturday.

Mrs Weston, of Ebchester, near Consett, was born in the village on April 2, 1918 – the day after the RAF was formed.

She served in the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force throughout the Second World War, while her husband, Robert 'Bill' Weston, was an air gunner with Bomber Command and her brother, Stewart Cheeseman, with Coastal Command in the Mediterranean.

Gwen, who was accompanied at the parade by her two sons, Jon and David Weston, said: “I am immensely proud to have served my country in the Royal Air Force, and am equally proud that my late husband was a gunner in a Pathfinder squadron.

“I am delighted to have been asked to attend this special day of celebration in Durham for the Royal Air Force, and am glad to see so many people have turned out to cheer the young air cadets on and join in what is a very special occasion.”

Mrs Weston was also accompanied into Durham Cathedral’s thanksgiving service by CWO Rebecca Walley of 607 (Wearmouth squadron).