Hilda Mitchell was born in Warrington on December 29, 1924, one of four, and has lived all her life in Orford.
After leaving school, Hilda, who recently turned 100, began working in the munition factory in Risley during the Second World War, helping fill munitions such as bombs, shells, cartridges, pyrotechnics, and screening smokes.
Following that job, as a teen she went on to work at MacArthur Beattie & Co, a clothing manufacturers in Warrington that opened in 1928 and produced uniforms for servicemen throughout the war.
The Florence Mill Care Home resident eventually met her husband-to-be Doug Mitchell and the pair married.
Hilda celebrated her 100th birthday in December (Image: Supplied) Hilda confessed during a chat with care worker at the home, Jeanette Beardsall, that she was Doug’s ‘pin-up girl’ while he was away during the war.
And the pair had a happy long marriage before Doug sadly died more than 25 years ago, leaving Hilda a widow.
Describing her full-of-life resident, Jeanette said: “Hilda loves dancing, bingo, and loved holidaying in Spain and Blackpool.
“She also went to Australia on her own to travel in the 80s.”
During later life, Hilda, who received a card from King Charles III for the milestone birthday, enjoyed the company of her sister-in-laws, Iris and Ivy, and would regularly go lunching at the café in Hancock’s and Woods department store.
Hilda celebrated her 100th birthday in December at Florence Hill Care Home in Howley (Image: Supplied) Detailing her birthday antics, Jeanette added: “She enjoyed her 100th birthday at the care home with a visit from family and entertainment from Johnny G.
“She had her daily whiskey and water too.”
The 100-year-old posed and smiled in pictures surrounded by her family and plenty of birthday cards as she celebrated the occasion.