IT was a Sunday with a difference for Gladys Shrubsole when she celebrated her 105th birthday at the weekend. The sprightly centenarian-plus ran jewellery shop Satchells in Radlett with her husband for many years. She is now a resident at Abbeyfield Walke

IT was a Sunday with a difference for Gladys Shrubsole when she celebrated her 105th birthday at the weekend.

The sprightly centenarian-plus ran jewellery shop Satchells in Radlett with her husband for many years.

She is now a resident at Abbeyfield Walker Lodge in Bushey where she marked her birthday with a lunch with her family and a tea party for staff, relatives and friends.

Gladys was born three years after Queen Victoria died and was already 10 years old by the time World War One broke out.

When she was 19 she came down from Derbyshire to work as a nanny in St Albans and while she was there, she met her first husband Alfred Satchell whom she married when she was 24.

Alfred was a watchmaker and repairer and Gladys was his assistant in the shop. They became very well known in the village where their shop was in the old part of Radlett known as the Oakway area.

The couple also lived locally in The Avenue and as well as her work in the shop, Gladys loved to cook and entertain - something which only stopped four years ago when she moved into Abbeyfield.

After many years of happy marriage, Alfred passed away and in her seventies Gladys married Lawrence Shrubsole and had 10 contented years with him.

She did not have children but is very close to her godson Michael Ironmonger.

Gladys put her youthful looks and long life down to her own special formula. She said: "Ponds face cream and lots of friends and loving care at Abbeyfield.