A CAMPAIGNING pensioner who lives in Kidderminster is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Beatrice Thompson, known as Beaty, spent most of her life in Worcester where she became heavily involved with the Worcestershire Pensioners Action Group while living in sheltered accommodation.

She now lives at Offmore Residential Home, in Kidderminster, where she will be celebrating her birthday with friends and family.

Mrs Thompson was born in Birmingham in 1913, where she had a difficult upbringing living in the slums.

She was a first class dress maker and cleaned a chapel in Birmingham where she became involved with the Baptist church.

She married her late husband Stanley in 1938 and had five children, Barry, Beryl, Robert, Joan and Stanley.

She also has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mrs Thompson used to crochet blankets for babies and also sent them abroad on Baptist missions.

Her granddaughter Annemarie Bannister, 38, said: “She’s fantastic for her age, everybody comments on that. Everything she does. she does with passion.”

“She’s just such an outgoing, bubbly person. She’s always wanting to help others. I think she’s made it to 100 by always keeping busy.”

Mrs Thompson’s celebrations will be quieter than planned after she had a fall on Sunday and had to go to hospital.

Mrs Bannister added: “She is well in herself and glad to be back.”