A GREAT GRANDMOTHER has celebrated her 105th birthday in the care home she has resided in since the turn of the century.

Former Royal Air Force cook Gwen McDermot moved to York with her husband, Michael, and spent a year at a care home in Acomb before Mr McDermot died.

She has been at Limetrees Care Home, in Poppleton, since 2000.

The mum of Robin, 71, and Richard, 69, was born and grew up in Wem, a village in Shropshire, but after years of moving around the country with her family, decided to settle in North Yorkshire to be closer to her eldest son.

Mrs McDermot was conscripted aged 29 and joined her husband in the air force, but left when she fell pregnant for the first time in 1944.

She feared her husband, who joined the RAF before the start of the Second World War, had been killed or imprisoned in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp when she failed to hear from him for more than a year after fighting broke out in 1939.

He had been serving in Singapore and the couple lost all contact with each other until he suddenly arrived back in Britain.

Mrs McDermot said the memory of hearing her husband was alive and well was one of her happiest in 105 years.

She said: “He was one of the lucky ones.

“He could have died or been in a prison camp.”

The family travelled for a number of years due to her husband’s commitments in the RAF, with their sons eventually following in their parents’ footsteps by joining the military.

Richard joined the Royal Navy and still lives in Plymouth, while Robin signed up to the Army and now lives in Dringhouses.

Mrs McDermot, who has a wide family including three grandchildren and four great grandchildren, spent her 105th birthday surrounded by relatives.

She was also visited by The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Dave Taylor, who presented her with flowers on behalf of the city of York.

She added: “I really enjoyed being in the RAF because I worked with a lot of different people.

“There’s been nothing wrong with my life.

“I have been happy all my life and have a lot of good memories, and I’m lucky enough to have a family.”