AN Evesham woman who celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday (Wednesday) claims hard work and good food is the recipe for a long and happy life.

Catherine Turner (known as Maude), of Ferry View sheltered accommodation, still has an excellent memory. She can name all the teachers at the Broadway school she attended before the First World War, and can also reel off a long list of employers' names and their families whom she has worked with over the years.

They included nurses at Evesham's Cottage Hospital who worked there during the First and Second World Wars, market gardeners Staites, Willmotts, the glasses case manufacturer, and produce distributor Frank Iddons & Sons.

At the same time the hard-working mother of one son put in 46 years voluntary work with the local Royal British Legion assembling poppies for the major annual fund-raising events.

Mrs Turner said: "We had to attach bits of wire and leaves to the poppies. I was one of the very first members of the women's branch."

Mrs Turner, who was born in Broadway, lived in West Street, Evesham, for 63 years after marrying the Fred Turner, a Vale produce lorry driver.

She vividly recalls her childhood days, however, living at the family home in Sherriff's Lench

Mrs Turner said: "I was the eldest of ten and we had a very happy home life. My mother led the singing and we all used to join in, including father, with villagers listening outside. I had a wonderful family and a good and faithful husband."

She said she was very sorry for young people nowadays. "They have very little experience of hard work and get into debt," said Mrs Turner.

The centenarian attended a birthday party at Ferry View with her friends, relatives and members of the staff at Evesham and Pershore Housing Association yesterday.

She said: "I am still enjoying life and my wonderful memories. I am living in a very happy place and the staff look after me very well here."