Ethel celebrates her special milestone

A BEDMINSTER woman who served with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War was surrounded by family and friends as she celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday.

Ethel Couch was the youngest of seven children and grew up in Garnet Street, in The Chessels.

Her father, who was a postman and lay Baptist preacher, wanted her to become a missionary but Ethel had a soft spot for the boys.

She instead took up a post in the WAAF in 1941 and soon became a sergeant.

During that time she was responsible for overseeing 200 women and has numerous stories of her exploits within the Air Force.

She said: “I enjoyed teaching the girls to drill and as an admin sargeant I had to look after the girls and their welfare.”

It was while she was in uniform, on a bus in Prince Street, that she met her husband William who was also in the Air Force. The pair were married in Philip Street Baptist Church in August 1945 and Edith gave up the Air Force to look after their son John, now 63.

Mrs Couch now lives in Amerind Grove Nursing Home, in Raleigh Road. She has a passion for antiques and loves to watch a number of antiques programmes on the television.

When asked the secret to living to 100 she said: “It’s all thanks to the one above. That’s who I put my trust in.”