Milestone birthday celebrated in County Durham home

One of our residents recently celebrated her 100th birthday in the same home she first moved into with her husband in the mid-1950s.

Florence James and her late husband, Robert, were the very first tenants of the new build in the east of County Durham, and no one else has ever lived there.

Mrs James has spent nearly seven decades in the house, which we now manage. When the couple moved in, they paid ÂŁ1 and 3 shillings rent a week.

To help mark her milestone, we delivered a Ringtons hamper as a birthday gift.

Simon Bartlett, Interim Director of Neighbourhoods at believe housing, said: “It was a real pleasure to help celebrate such a special day. Stories like Mrs James’ are a lovely reminder of the role a home can play in someone’s life.”

Group of six people—four children in red jackets and two adults, one in a black suit and one in a bright pink coat—standing on a paved path in front of a wooden gazebo. A red ribbon is in front of the entrance to the gazebo and the woman in the bright pink coat is holding scissors to cut the ribbon. The outdoor area features green grass, autumn trees with yellow leaves, and picnic tables in the background.
Community, News, Social value | October 2025

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