Rosalind Bentley, who settled in the village with her late husband about 20 years ago, celebrated her centenary at Hazelgarth Lodge in Stonegate on Monday.

Mrs Bentley was born and brought up in a mining community in the Wakefield area, one of a large family.

Her eldest brother was killed at the age of 19 in the First World War and her mother died shortly afterwards in the flu pandemic of 1918. She also lost two sisters, leaving 12-year-old Rosalind to look after her siblings while two other sisters worked at the mill.

The family then lost their home after Rosalind's father her could no longer work in the pits and the young teenager had to go into service. A week after they left their former pit residence collapsed.

Her father died while crossing a railway line when she was in her 20s.
But her hardships came to an end when she married long-distance lorry driver Joe Bentley and the couple stayed in the Wakefield area until he retired.

They had a daughter, Maureen Harvey, who moved to Reighton in the mid-1980s.

Mrs Harvey said her mother enjoyed a "long and happy" marriage and lived at Hungate Court until about 18 months ago.

She said: "On a good day she's very chatty. She's always been happy and family-orientated, she's very proud and she's quite bonny. She likes to have her hair done and make-up on and has always been interested in people and fashion."

The 100 year old was in good spirits for the visit of her daughter and Hunmanby Parish Council chairman Joyce Coggins, who presented her with a bouquet and stayed for a long chat.