REACHING the fifth year of your second century would be a good enough reason for anyone to celebrate - and that is exactly what Freda Weyman was doing on Wednesday.

Mrs Weyman, who lives at the Willows Riverside Park, Maidenhead Road, Windsor celebrated her 105th birthday with a party at Fredrick’s Hotel in Maidenhead.

It has been quite a life, beginning in Austria. She was born in Saltzburg, later moving to Vienna where her daughter Helga says she loved to dance and ski.

But the end of the war proved a time to make a change and leave bad wartime memories behind by making a new start in England.

She came to live in England in 1947 and ran a famous wool and haberdashery shop called Quality Stores in Liverpool for many years, while her late husband John worked as area manager for the Co-op.

Her grandson Mark says the shop was legendary.

He said: “I work for an airline and I still meet people who remember it like yesterday.”

Mrs Weyman moved south to be near her family after retiring from the shop at the age of 72.

She has a son Peter, daughter Helga and three grandchildren.

She said: “I am happy most of the time but I miss the shop very much.

“I liked my customers.”

She takes good care of her complexion which is amazingly wrinkle free and always uses Nivea.

Grandson Mark said: “She loves her food and a glass of Champagne and particularly her drawing books.”

Her daughter Helga Currie, 77, is a former district nurse in Windsor who now lives with her mum.

Family and friends joined them both at Fredrick’s for Wednesday’s birthday lunch complete with a special cake.

They welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough Cllr John Lenton and Margaret Lenton as special guests.