BIRTHDAY girl Evelyn Dawson is proud to share her special day with the Queen.

Evelyn, from Rastrick, is celebrating her 80th birthday on April 21 - the same day as the Queen's real, rather than official, birthday.

And though she is not planning celebrations on as grand a scale as the Queen, Evelyn says she will be watching the official ceremonies on television.

She said: "I have always been proud of sharing the same birthday as the Queen-it is nice to have something in common with royalty.

"I like the fact that our country has a Queen and I like her a lot. I think she's a lot happier these days.

"But I do think she's had a hard life like the rest of the Royal family. It must be difficult not to have any privacy."

Evelyn has enjoyed working in a number of jobs over the years.

She started work at a textiles company in Linthwaite, and then worked for the Pennine President hotel at Ainley Top as an assistant housekeeper.

She owned her own sweet shop in Rastrick for 12 years and later worked at the Cancer Research shop in Huddersfield until the age of 72.

She loves the countryside and enjoys taking long walks with her husband Jim, who is 86.

The same year the Queen was born the following events happened:

* The Trades Union Council called a general strike in May in support of the mineworkers threatened with pay cuts.

* The UK National Grid was introduced.

* Huddersfield Town were Division One runners up to Newcastle United.

* Legendary Beatles producer George Martin (pictured) was born in January.

* In Italy in April there was a failed assassination attempt on Benito Mussolini.

* The first television demonstration was made by John Logie Baird.

* Great Miami Hurricane: A strong hurricane devastated Miami, Florida, leaving over 100 dead and causing several hundred million dollars' damage.