BORN the same year the First World War broke out, Dora Gardner has witnessed some of the biggest changes in history including the invention of the automobile, television and internet.

On Tuesday, February 11, Dora celebrated an astonishing 100th birthday at her home in the Stroud area with friends and family.

Dora was born in 1914 at her family home in Ebley to parents Ernest and Gertrude Cratchley. She was the first of two girls born to the couple, who ran the New Inn pub in Selsley for 32 years.

At the age of 21 Dora, who grew up in Cashes Green, married her childhood sweetheart Jack Gardner at All Saints Church in Selsley. The couple had two sons Terry and Derek, the second of whom was born six months before the start of the Second World War.

“I spent the majority of the war at home looking after the children but Jack served in the Army and was a part of the D-Day landing,” said Dora, who has four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Although Jack survived the war and came home to his family he died almost 10 years later at the age of 44.

On her birthday Dora received gifts from all over the world.

“My son Terry’s family all live in Canada and I have a granddaughter in Australia who also sent me flowers,” added Dora.