CENTENARIAN Lucy Beckley this week spoke of her fond memories of Malvern Community Hospital, where she was sister in charge of the outpatients clinic for 26 years.

Mrs Beckley, who turned 100 last Saturday, worked there until she was nearly 70 and was nursed there herself when she fractured her pelvis.

"It's a lovely little hospital. I should be very sad if it closed," she said.

Mrs Beckley lives with her son David and his wife Eleanor in Bluebell Close, Malvern, where there was a big family birthday celebration which included her three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Born in Worcester, she trained as a nurse at St Andrew's Hospital, Bow, and lived for a while in Ilford, Essex, with her late husband Fred, a former inspector in the Metropolitan Police Force.

"I have had a busy life and a happy one. I've enjoyed it all," said Mrs Beckley. "I had caring parents and God has been good to me over the years."