A KNUTSFORD mother-of-two has celebrated her 100th birthday with her family at her home in Cranford Avenue.

Jean Darbyshire was born on October 4 and has spent more than 60 years living in Knutsford.

She was born and brought up in Glossop before marrying Knutsfordian Phillip Darbyshire and the two lived initially in Dunham Massey.

Lord Stanford offered the couple accommodation in the jockey rooms when Phillip was demobbed and returned to become a sanitary inspector.

After spending a few years in Ashley, Jean and Phillip then moved to Knutsford in 1954, moving to her present house in 1963.

Jean was school secretary at Egerton School until her retirement, and as a result got to know many of the children in the town.

Sadly Phillip died in 1989, but she has enjoyed the continuing company of her two daughters, Janet and Anne, and their families and her many friends and other relatives. She has also received a lot of support and companionship from her carers.

Her son-in-law, Geoff Scott, who is married to Jean’s daughter Janet, explained how Jean would fly in his light aircraft across to Europe up until her 90s.

“I fly, and I used to have a Partenavia aircraft until about 10 years ago,” said Geoff. “We used to go down to France and across to Ireland with Jean.

“She would go anywhere with Janet. The aircraft was great for her she could climb in and rotate to the passenger seat.

“Most commonly we would go to our place in Brittany.”

Janet and Geoff, who live in Central London, joined Anne and her husband at Jean’s house in Cranford Avenue to celebrate the special occasion.

The family has an ‘open house’ weekend so that anyone could come along and wish Jean many happy returns.