High-flier Muriel from Middleton reaches her 100th birthday

Muriel Driver vividly recalls receiving the invitation to take to the air above London when she worked in the travel industry.

"I remember getting on this plane at Croydon Airport and going up in the air. I remember thinking it was an achievement," she said.

The flight was the first to carry passengers, rather than freight, from the airport and consisted of a circular journey above the capital.

Mrs Driver began as a shorthand typist and secretary in the travel business and worked her way up to become a company secretary.

She married her husband, Hugh, in 1938. He passed away in 1976, four years after the couple had retired to Meadow Walk where Mrs Driver still lives.

She became a keen member of Bognor Regis Art Society and a regular worshipper at St Nicholas Church in Middleton.

Her limited mobility now rules out visits to the church but its vicar, Father William Marston, regularly calls round to see her. Church visitors also pop in for a chat.

Fr Marston was among the 80 or so guests who gathered at her home to celebrate Mrs Driver's recent 100th birthday. They included her two children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"It doesn't feel much different being 100 than it did a year ago," she said.

"I think it's just luck reaching this age as well as eating well and not doing anything in excess.

"I've been very happy in my life and it's been very nice here."

Mrs Driver was born in Tooting in South London.

She had three sisters and her father managed the London office of an iron and steel manufacturer after he had moved from Bilston in the West Midlands.

Her family moved to Colliers Wood in South London where she grew up.

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