A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER celebrated her milestone 100th birthday with a special sing-along.

Marguirite Barnacle, known as Mollie, celebrated her centenary at Maryfield Convent residential care home, in London Road, Hook, where she has been living for nearly two years.

The sprightly centenarian celebrated her birthday with a big family party last Sunday at The Mill House, Hook, and this was followed by a celebration on Monday with her friends and nuns at the care home.

The group were serenaded by Now Sing! Choir, based in Hook, who performed songs, including wartime favourites Pack Up Your Troubles and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary before everyone joined in with a special performance of Happy Birthday.

Mollie was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, and spent 60 years of her life in Chester, working as a reception teacher.

The determined pensioner lived independently until she was 98, and moved into the care home only when a loss of short-term memory began causing her some problems.

Her daughter Judy said: “She is very independent and lived on her own for years after my father died 24 years ago.

“She has always been very active and she climbed Snowdon when she was 70. She was doing yoga into her late 80s and has always enjoyed mountaineering. I think that keeping active and healthy has played a big part in her long life.”

Mollie also has a son, Roger, two grandchildren, Nikki and Anna, and two great-grandchildren, Lorna and Amy.

She received a card from The Queen and one from Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to celebrate her landmark birthday.