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Centenarian celebrates 100 years in same village

Connor Bennett,in Harstonand
Aimee Dexter
Shaun Whitmore/BBC Kath Rayner is sitting on a chair. She has short grey hair and is laughing with her hand over her mouth. She is wearing a blue jumper. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Kath said the key to reaching 100 was "fresh vegetables" and "fresh air"

As neighbours gathered for a surprise birthday celebration, one woman became the centre of attention in the Cambridgeshire village she has called home for a century.

For 100 years, Kath Rayner has lived in Harston and raised her own family there. She celebrated her centenarian year on Wednesday.

A surprise party was held for her birthday at the village hall.

Now living with her son, who is also her carer, she said: "It's always been my home and school and everything... I don't want to go nowhere else — never thought about it."

Talking about the turnout for her celebrations, she added: "I'm overwhelmed with it all."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Three people are sitting or standing behind a table which has a birthday cake, flowers and different cakes in a tiered tray. They are talking to each other and are in front of a window which has the curtains closed.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Family and friends, including her son, turned out to celebrate Kath's 100th on Wednesday

Kath grew up in the village, near Cambridge, and stayed there with her husband Bert, who died in 2006.

When asked about her childhood, she said: "I was good then [but] I've changed a lot since then... I'll say no more."

Kath said the key to her age was eating "fresh vegetables" and getting "fresh air".

"We always had good fresh vegetables and everything, no pesticides, and I still eat the things I did then," she said.

Family handout Bert and Kath Rayner are standing next to each other in front of a white wall which has several found plate-style pictures hung on it. Bert, on the left, has short grey hair and is wearing black framed glasses, a white shirt, red tie and cream cardigan. Kath, on the right, has short curly grey hair and is wearing clear framed glasses, a white short sleeved shirt and a red vest.Family handout
Bert and Kath raised their family in Harston
Shaun Whitmore/BBC A card is stood on a table. It has a royal crest on it and a birthday message to someone on their 100th birthday. It is signed by the King and Queen.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Kath received a card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Her son Graham Rayner said he was "amazed" at how many people showed up to his mother's party.

The 65-year-old said: "She brought me up to be good and proper... she has been a good mother all round."

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