Chocolate, sugar and a daily walk are the key to a long life, according to a woman who celebrated her 102nd birthday this week.

Regulars at The Mustard Tree, in Hurworth, near Darlington, held a surprise tea party for Nance Lee-Warner who turned 102 on Tuesday (March 19). 

Mrs Lee-Warner is said to join her friendship group regularly at the cafe to have a natter and complete The Northern Echo daily crossword and puzzle.

The Northern Echo:

Nance spilled her secrets as to how she has reached the age of 102 - crediting chocolate and a lot of sugar for her long life, as well as a walk each morning and afternoon, depending on the weather.

Her birthday tea party at The Mustard Seed consisted of a selection of sandwiches, chocolate, great company and, of course, tea and coffee. 

The Northern Echo:

Friends of Nance, who regularly witness her adding nine sachets of sugar to her daily cup of coffee, had nothing but fantastic things to say about the remarkable woman who atill lives very independently.

The Northern Echo:

A former history and English teacher, Nance and was born on March 19, 1922, and she has lived an interesting life with her late husband Jack.

Spending her life in the North East, Nance grew up in Durham, where her father was Deputy Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary. he studied for her degree at St Hilda’s College at Durham University, during the Second World War.

Beginning their heartfelt romance, Nance married the Reverend Jack Lee-Warner, a fighter pilot during the Second World War who flew more than 100 missions in Spitfire and Hurricanes.

Jack was Oxford-educated and ordained in 1951. He served a curacy in South Shields, became priest-in-charge of Cassop-cum-Quarrington, and the second vicar of Peterlee.

The Northern Echo:

During the 1960s, Nance and Jack spent 11 happy years in Darlington when Jack was vicar at Holy Trinity, then moved to Gainford when Jack went on to become the vicar for Gainford and Winston.

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Nance holds her time living in Gainford as an especially joyful time in their lives, but when Jack retired, they moved back to Darlington.

Jack was made an honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral, but sadly passed away in 2010, and Nance misses him greatly. She has two children and four grandchildren and so many friends in Darlington, that joined her at her surprise birthday tea party.

When she was 86, Nance also returned voluntarily to teach literacy and numeracy skills at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution, outside Barnard Castle, which gave her a great deal of satisfaction.

Nance and her friends had a fantastic time at her birthday tea party and plan to spend many more mornings catching up over a crossword.