Sunday service like home for Betty, 100

The 100-year-old never misses a Sunday service, even braving snow and ice to get to the church in Wollaston, Stourbridge. And the congregation held a service in her honour to mark her eventful past at the weekend. Betty was born in 1909 and was one of seven Davis children who grew up in Old Hill. But tragedy struck in 1915 when her father was killed in the Great War.

Betty's mother struggled to cope and the young girl was sent to a home in Wandsworth for children of wounded or dead soldiers.

Nine difficult years followed with strict and sometimes cruel staff giving her orders and domestic chores.

Betty's only consolation was the church service she attended each Sunday.

When she finally returned home she married Percy and moved to Stourton where she attended a village church. On discovering the church was to close in 1969 the great-great grandmother walked all the way to Wollaston Free Church in Somerset Drive.

She enjoyed the welcome and singing so much she took her daughter Pat along to the next service. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Betty's other great love has been for the Ruth School in Bucharest. Aged 90 she flew there to meet Romanian orphans.

She turned 100 yesterday and asked for donations to Project Ruth. And a thanksgiving service was held for Betty at the church in Somerset Drive on Sunday night.

And on Saturday the church's oldest worshipper attended the Valentine's Day wedding of congregation members Lesley and Keith Taberer.

Betty said the church was a "second home" to her. "This church has been my life. I don't know what I would do without it.

"I love company. They're all so good to me here and there's always a warm welcome," she said.