FIVE generations helped to celebrate a milestone birthday for Basingstoke’s first female bus conductor.

Winifred Toms, known as Winnie, was joined by family and friends at Pemberley House, in Grove Road, Basingstoke, to mark her 100th birthday.

Winnie was born in Canada before moving to Basingstoke at the age of seven, where she has stayed ever since.

Her first job was working at Burberry where she hand-stitched waxed button holes at the now famous fashion brand, which opened its very first store in Basingstoke.

When war broke out, Winnie offered her time to support the efforts back home, and she replaced the man’s role as a bus conductor, becoming the first woman to take on this job in the town.

She continued working for the bus company until she retired aged 60, although she spent the final few years working in an office.

Winnie was happily married to Alex, who worked for the fire service and on the buses, before eventually taking a job with Smiths Industries. Alex died aged 81 in 1995.

Winnie lived for many years in Portacre Rise, Kings Furlong, before moving to Pemberley House in August 2013.

On her special birthday on December 29, she was joined by family and friends at the home, and enjoyed receiving a card from The Queen to mark the milestone.

Unfortunately, her 97-year-old sister Jean Ebbs was unable to make it on the day, after being taken ill before Christmas.

Winnie’s niece, Eunice Kew, 85, from Cranbourne, Basingstoke, said: “This was a very special occasion and it was enjoyed by all.”