AN old-fashioned sing-a-long and lashings of strawberries and cream are just part of the centenary celebrations for a Worcester pensioner.

Ellen Pattle from the Lawns Nursing Home in Kempsey was all smiles as she picked up her telegram from the Queen today to congratulate her fantastic milestone.

With a tipple of sherry to keep up her spirits, nursing staff at the home were due to cut the cake this afternoon to begin her party, which will include a guitarist playing many old time songs.

Mrs Pattle was born and lived most of her life in Plymouth where she left school and started work at the local Co-op at the early age of 14.

After meeting her husband George Pattle, a local dockworker, at the age of 25, she eventually moved to Malta, where George's work was based.

But after three years of happiness, Ellen with her young daughter Jean had to return to England after the outbreak of the Second World War. The two managed to get on board the last boat back across the Mediterranean and her husband returned two - years later - via the Cape of Good Hope.

Her daughter, Jean Pokorny, said they both vividly remembered being escorted back by a Royal Navy warship. It was just one early sense of adventure that never deserted the family.

"My husband Thomas worked for the Government's legal team and we were based all around the world," said Mrs Pokorny.

"My mother and father came out to visit us in New Zealand and Hong Kong. They loved both of the places, especially New Zealand. My father didn't want to leave."

When Ellen was in her 80s, she moved up to Worcester to be closer to her daughter, who had finally settled in Whittington.

Although George sadly passed away soon after moving, Ellen has lived in the Lawns for the last 12 years, where Jean says the staff have been fantastic.