A BORN and bred Salisbury woman celebrated her 105th birthday in the city last week.

Dorothy Noyce spent her childhood living in Sidney Street with her four siblings.

She met her husband Albert while he was out riding his motorbike, and they married in 1939.

While Mr Noyce was away serving during the Second World War, his wife worked in the Spitfire factory on New Street making aircraft fuselage parts. She lived at her mother’s house and used her ration coupons to buy new clothes for when her husband came home.

She kept the precious outfits in a suitcase that she dragged under the dining room table with her whenever the air raid sirens sounded.

After the war Mr and Mrs Noyce moved to London to run a news agency, and their daughter Kay was born was born in the city.

The family returned to Salisbury in 1949, helping Mr Noyce’s father to run the family’s newsagent’s in Milford Street.

They had a son, Peter, and eventually took over the running of the shop, spending many happy years getting to know their customers.

In 1977 the couple retired and enjoyed many happy years together, taking holidays and spending time with friends and family, including their grandchildren Joanne, Toby, Matthew and Ben.

After Mr Noyce died in 1995 his wife continued to attend various clubs and activities often taking coach trips to other towns with friends.

She moved into a care home, where she continues to enjoy a busy programme of events and activities and enjoy the company of her family including her great grandchildren Amelie, Charlie and Sophie.

Dorothy spent her birthday with her family at Braemar Lodge.