THE celebration of Brenda Pooley’s 100th birthday took place on Sunday, December 2, having been born at Flanders Farm, Crackington Haven, on that day in 1918, just 21 days after the First World War had ended.

Brenda was christened Brenda May Coombe Sandercock. The celebration party was held in the Stable Room at the Brendon Arms, Bude, and 50 family members and friends joined her for a lunchtime celebration. The Brendon Arms decorated the room appropriately and supplied an excellent buffet lunch.

Also at the party was solo singer Peter K from Bideford, who sang easy listening and recognisable songs in a very professional manner. Everyone toasted the great achievement with champagne and all, in particular Brenda, had a very enjoyable day to remember. Her son Nigel had previously been through her old photo albums and scanned many, which he had put on a slide show that ran in the background and gave a lot of interest to all the guests.

Brenda lived all of her early life in the Crackington Haven and Tresparrett Post areas, and went to Otterham County Primary School, incidentally where sons Nigel and Gerald attended some 25 years later. When she was 92 years old, she was invited back to the school to cut the ribbon when the school celebrated 100 years.

She got married in June 1942 to Roy Pooley, when he was home on leave from the Second World War, and after the war ended and he came home they went to live in Holsworthy for a while. Both Nigel and Gerald were born in the nursing home in Bude, which was along Killerton Road. The family then went to live at Otterham Station for about eight years before moving to West Downs, Delabole, where Brenda and Roy lived for about 20 years.

Brenda always worked. She used to cover the area for Morses, a catalogue selling job, taking orders from the catalogue and then delivering the goods in a little green mini van, which she was supplied with — all of this is now done on the internet with direct home delivery. She also worked for Cyril Lord carpets, where she used to measure up and take orders for new carpets. She then worked in the office for David Turner Electrical at Boscastle for many years, but always seemed busy and Nigel would often come home to Delabole from senior school at Launceston College some 20 miles away, and cook tea for all of them. Nigel said: “This set me up well for later life where I have always cooked through married life and loved it!”

Roy had a serious heart attack at 54 years and after recovering had to take it reasonably easy but still lived until he was 76. However, during this time he gave up work and they moved house. It seemed as if they were following Nigel around as they bought a bungalow in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, where he then lived and soon after he moved to Chard to work. In 1986, Brenda and Roy moved to Seaton in Devon where they stayed until Roy died and then in 1997 Brenda moved back to Bude and bought a bungalow in Hallett Way, living there until she was no longer able to look after herself and moved into a care home. First of all Red Gables, Bude, and then to Penmount Grange, Lanivet, where she still lives today.

Brenda is still in good health for 100 years old, and really enjoyed her day of celebration recently. She received a card personally signed by the Queen and a telegram from Amber Rudd the secretary of state for work and pensions, plus many cards from family and friends.

It was decided not to have presents at the celebration, and instead a collection was made for the Macmillan Cancer Care Trust, of which Brenda was a big supporter after her brother Michael died in his early 60s. She always held coffee mornings at her home in support of this charity, and would often hold Scrabble evenings and whist drives at her home, always having a big circle of friends with her.