Freemasons Hungerford 4748 Lodge throw 103rd birthday party for Lambourn resident Sylvia Chivers,

HAPPY 103rd birthday, Sylvia!

The Treaty of Versailles was signed, officially ending the First World War, and alcohol prohibition began in America when Sylvia Chivers entered the world.

And on Monday, November 27, she celebrated with her daughter Marie, plus friends and neighbours.

District councillor Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) dropped by the Lambourn Hall and the party was organised by the Freemasons, of whom Mrs Chivers’ late husband, Clarence, was a keen member.

Mrs Chivers lived in Eastbury before moving to Lambourn 37 years ago.

She worked for many years in Woodhead’s Hairdressers in Newbury and, in later years, worked from home in Lambourn.

Her late husband worked as an instrument technician in Hermitage and was a keen Freemason.

Mrs Chivers recalled: “He used to enjoy the meetings, and ever since, the masons have been kind to me.”

Friends from across the Lambourn Valley and as far afield as Swindon attended her birthday party.

Mrs Chivers enjoyed a glass of bubbly and a slice of birthday cake – although she pointed out the candles wrongly added a whole year to her age.

The event was organised by the Freemasons’ Hungerford 4748 Lodge valedictory almoner, Robin McGregor.

Hungerford met for nearly 90 years at the Town Hall in Hungerford until 2014 when it moved its formal activities to the Newbury Masonic Centre.

It is one of the largest lodges in Berkshire.

Photos by Paul St Claire Terry