A CIRENCESTER centenarian celebrated her 100th birthday with her loving family and a surprise Zoom call from Brazil.

Betty Baker, a resident at Priory Mews, celebrated the landmark birthday on June 17, with a card from the Queen.

A large extended family party had been planned and her son Neil was due to fly in from Brazil with his wife, but due to social distancing requirements and lockdown restrictions, Betty celebrated it with her daughter Anne and her immediate family.

However, a surprise Zoom party was planned with her family in Brazil, and relations as far afield as Vancouver Island, Southern Ireland, Southend on Sea, Brighton, Taunton and even Cirencester.

Betty was born in Glasgow on June 17, 1920, to Hugh and Annie Morris.

During the war she served as a WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) at a weather station in West Wales launching meteorological balloons and collecting data to provide weather forecasts for the RAF protecting of the Atlantic Convoys.

Betty and George were both Southendians and he was introduced by Betty’s younger sister Nancy and they became tennis partners for life.

They were married in November 1944 while George was on leave from the army as the end of the war was in sight.

After the war they settled back in Southend having two children Anne and Neil.

George’s work took the family to Wolverhampton where they joined the local Hanbury Tennis Club.

Finally they hung up their rackets moving to Cirencester in 2000 to be close to their daughter’s family.

Betty had a special birthday cake in the form of a tennis court in the Wimbledon colours and of course strawberries and cream.