FAMILY is the key to a long life, according to a new centenarian.

Western Way resident Nancy Hartgill, originally from Sidcup in Kent, celebrated her milestone 100th birthday.

In a grand celebration at the Fox Inn, in Newfound, on Tuesday, 2 October, Nancy saw in her centenary in good form, with many of her extended family packing out the pub to celebrate with her for afternoon tea, which led onto a party in the evening.

After marrying husband Len Hartgill in 1950, she went on to have four children, and the family has continued to grow since.

In a list of birthdays that proves difficult to keep track of, Nancy has four children, eight grand-children, 20 great-grandchildren, and will hopefully be meeting her first great-great-grandchild in January 2019.

On being a great-great-grandmother, Nancy said: “It is something that I never thought that I would see, and it makes me very happy.”

Nancy moved to the Basingsotke area around the time of the Second World War, where she worked for Kelvin, Bottomley and Baird in its factory, making parts for aeroplanes.

It was shortly after this that she met Len and settled down in Western Way, in the same house in which she still lives.

For a time, Nancy was a dinner lady at Fairfields School, before becoming a full-time mother.

Together, the couple enjoyed ballroom dancing and going to the cinema.

Nancy said: “I’ve had a good life, and a happy time. I’ve met lots of good people, and been lucky enough not to have too many bad times.

“I’ve got a great family and they’re a good crowd. Meeting them all over the years has really been a highlight and there is still more to come.”

Nancy also dispensed some of her wisdom to the younger crowd at the party, with her trademark saying ‘A little bit of what you fancy never does any harm’.