A FORMER Pretoria pit brow lass, put into the job because she was "delicate", celebrates her 100th birthday on Sunday.

Lively Mrs Frances Butler (pictured), who still does her own shopping each Monday, has loved all her life in Atherton.

She married miner James, who passed away 27 years ago, and has two surviving children Elsie, 78, and Jean, 63. Middle daughter, Betty, died 10 years.

Frances, who has an amazing memory, remembers the day when she was working at Sutcliffe Speakman during the First World War and all the workers were allowed out of the factory to watch a Zeppelin go over.

The oldest member of the Atherton Formby Hall Blind Group, Frances comes from a long-living family. Her sister, Mrs Martha Hatton,is hot on her heels at the age of 95.

Daughter Elsie, 78, said: "She is amazing. She has a much better memory than I. I have to ask my mother to remind me of things.

"She started work at the Pretoria as a pit brow lass because she was considered by her family to be delicate and needed the fresh air. She is anything but fragile now."

Frances will be joined by her family, which includes seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, at a party in the Mealhouse Court Community Centre on Sunday, at which the Mayor, Cllr Sam Little, will drop in.

Leader of the Atherton Formby Hall Blind Group, Philip Taylor, said: "All our members would like to congratulate our oldest member on reaching her century."

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