A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who was good friends with Lawrence of Arabia celebrated turning 100 yesterday.

Mary Raine, who grew up in Byers Green, near Spennymoor, moved to London where she looked after a family who were very good friends with Lawrence of Arabia.

Mrs Raine also became friendly with him and when she moved back to the North-East, he gave her a handbag and a pair of scissors as a keepsake.

Mrs Raine married her husband, Robert, on August 15, 1937, and together they had one daughter who they also named Mary.

The centenarian now also has a grandson, Phillip and a great grandson, Sam.

Now living in Tenlands Nursing Home in Ferryhill, the great-grandmother enjoys watching TV, listening to music, and a whisky with fish and chips.

Her daughter said she remembers her mother keeping her house clean and that she loved working.

“She’s worked all of her life and was always a good mother, looking after us all. She always said she would live to 100 and here she is,” she said.

“She was singing all day yesterday which was lovely to see, it was a wonderful day for us all.”