A 90th BIRTHDAY celebration for a Hatherleigh woman was enjoyed by 50 of her close friends and family earlier this month. The 'tea party' for Beatrice May Durham, known affectionally as Beatie, was held at the Community Centre in Hatherleigh on May 5. Fifty of her friends and family attended the party in the building's main hall. Beatie's son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter from her immediate family attended. Video messages were sent from her great grandchildren in Dallas, Texas. It saw them lighting and blowing out candles in honour of the birthday milestone. Her son Brian had produced a 'This is Your Life' style 20-minute video presentation which charted Beatie's life story from her birth during WW1, working seven days a week in service during her youth, to WW2 when she met a young soldier who was stationed in Hatherleigh whom she married. Unfortunately he was killed after D-Day just three years after they met. She brought up her son with her father's family. Ever since her son Brian left Devon when he was 16, she has lived on her own, and has had an active social life in the town. She was a member of the British Legion, the Women's Institute, and played an active part in the life of the Methodist Chapel where she sang in the choir. Brian said: 'Over the years she has been well supported by friends and family in the town, and this event in some ways, was a big thank-you to them for that support.' Beatie asked for donations for Air Ambulance instead of presents and received £350.