Fareham birthday girl 'amazed' to have reached 100

Edith White from Titchfield Common, celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, September, 14. Picture: Sarah Standing (140920-3919)

She says, smiling: ‘It's amazing – I never thought I would live this long. When I look back over the years I have had a good, happy life and I've been very lucky to have such good health.’ Growing up in Sheffield with her parents, Edith Ellen and Mark Paramore, Edith had a happy childhood and started working at The Grand Hotel, Sheffield, when she was a teenager.

While working as a chambermaid, Edith met her future husband Charles White, who also worked at the hotel as a porter. The couple married in 1939 when Edith was 19.

During the Second World War, Charles joined the RAF as a delivery driver while Edith worked in a cutlery factory before supporting the war effort by joining a gun factory.

Mayor of Fareham, Pamela Bryant, with Edith and her family (from left) Nikki Burchett, Sharon White, James White, and Joan White. Picture: Sarah Standing (140920-3952)

The Whites had one son, Stephen, and enjoyed going to the horse races together as well as travelling to Italy several times on holiday.

Edith and Charles celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1989 before Charles died in 1997. Shortly after, Edith moved to Lincoln Close, Fareham, to be near her son and his family and still lives there now.

Edith has two grandchildren, James and Nikki, and two great-grandchildren, Lewis and Leya, who she sees regularly.

Edith says: ‘The most important lesson you've learnt in life is to make lots of friends and get along with everyone.

‘It's important to keep active and busy.’