FRIENDS, family and staff joined in the celebrations of a “remarkable woman” who joined the 100 club.

Mary Wythe was treated to a special lunch and a sing along of her favourite hymns when she turned 100-years-old on Monday, 9 April,

The celebrations were held at the Cherry Blossom Manor, in Bramley, where Mary has been a resident for the past seven years.

On her special day Mary received a telegram from the Queen in recognition of her landmark birthday, with a small service being carried out and the reading of her favourite psalm, led by her son Peter.

Mary has had an eventful life and has many stories to share.

As a child she was left outside a shop in Newbury by her maternal mother.

Mary was subsequently adopted by a loving Christian family at the age of four.

Later in life she was called up to help make bombs during the Second World War, which she did for several years, but this meant leaving her loving family home and moving north to a place where she knew no-one.

Once the war was over, Mary and her husband worked on a farm where she raised five children: four girls and a boy.

Although Mary is unable to verbally express her emotions at turning 100, she showed staff how she was feeling in other ways.

General manager of Cherry Blossom Mannor, Gigi Despojo said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone.

“Mary was one of the very first residents to move into Cherry Blossom Manor and has continued to enjoy her time here.”

Among those relatives attending were Mary’s five children, Olive, Annie, Christine, Peter and Ruth, and later she was joined by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.