A COLWALL woman celebrated a special birthday this month.

Barbara Willis was born on November 10, 1916 and celebrated her 105th birthday last Wednesday.

She was born in the village and attended Hills School before beginning her working life as a cleaner.

As a child, she was regarded as sickly, but she has lived a long and eventful life to take her into her 106th year.

She also worked at Schweppes before the Second World War saw her move onto munitions work in Worcester, eventually leaving due to the factory conditions' effect on her health.

A spell at Tilts Dairy followed before 25 years at Malvern Theatres.

Mrs Willis' niece Diane Phillips gave us a flavour of her aunt's personality, saying: "Auntie Barb decided to learn to ride a moped in her late 50s and had a box basket on the back with a hole cut out to carry her poodle dog.

"During the war, in her younger days she enjoyed going dancing and having a tipple at the winter gardens.

"She was never married or had any children. She still lives alone and has family members round everyday to check on her.

"These family members had a little party for her on the day itself, which she thoroughly enjoyed."

Having worked for 25 years at the theatre, Mrs Willis went on to work for well-known Malvern company Fleet Line Markers before a final spell at the Ansells Brewery distribution centre in Spring Lane.

She retired having worked there for eight years.

We reported on how Mrs Willis celebrated her 100th birthday back in 2016.

Alongside her letter from the Queen, friends and family again hosted a party for her.

At the time, she told our reporter her secret to a long life, saying: "I just don’t give a monkey’s. That’s the secret."

Niece Diane also said at the time: "She was like a mother to me. I used to call her mum sometimes.

"She’s always been an inspiration to me - everyone loves Auntie Barb.

"She never married she doesn’t need a man."