ONE of Leeholme's oldest residents celebrates his 101st birthday today.
Tom Brown puts his longevity down to hard graft after working down the pit from leaving school until his retirement.
Born in Thornley, east Durham, Mr Brown grew up in several communities including Coundon and Leasingthorne.
He started working down the Leasingthorne pit in 1919, following in the footsteps of his pitman father. He was only 14 and he worked there until he retired 46 years later.
His younger brother Jack, who lives in Bishops Stortford, also worked in the mine, and Mr Brown is one of the last living miners in the village.
He has lived alone since his wife, Ellen, died 26 years ago, and manages his home with the help of great-nieces Jane Bateman and Ann Hardy.
Mr Brown said: "I don't know how I have done it, except that I have never smoked, and worked hard all my life.
"I went down the pit from an early age and you couldn't breathe for the dust, but I am still here."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article