A WOMAN widowed nearly seven decades ago has turned 100.

Ida Cock celebrated the landmark with a champagne reception with family and friends at Highroyd Care Home in Moldgreen yesterday.

She was born in Slaithwaite on October 17, 1911, and left school at 14 to work in the mills.

Her husband Jim died of a brain haemorrhage at a Sykes Cup match 68 years ago – when their only child Irene was just 18-months-old.

She said yesterday: “My mother has had quite a hard life because there wasn’t much help in bringing up children in those days.”

Mrs Cock lived in Wellhouse and worked as a cook at the village school. She later moved to Cedar Close in Golcar.

Mrs Cock moved to Ashleigh Care Home three years ago and switched to Highroyd in February.

She has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Irene said: “She has always been interested in singing because her father Jerry Buckley helped found Colne Valley Male Voice Choir.”