Ivy Moore celebrates 100th birthday (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Ivy Moore celebrates 100th birthday

1:00pm Thursday 15th November 2012 in Local By Chris Gregory

A FORMER war-time cook has celebrated her 100th birthday by opening scores of cards from well-wishers.

Ivy Moore, who lives at Oakley Lodge Nursing Home, near Oakley, received more than 50 messages, including a card from The Queen and a telegram from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

The grandmother-of-two opened them with the help of her daughter Corinne Bellaby and staff at the care home.

The centenarian told The Gazette: “I think all the cards are wonderful. I expected one or two but I did not expect to get cards like these. They are wonderful.”

Mrs Moore moved to the care home in 2009, having previously lived in a retirement complex in Kendal Gardens, Kempshott, Basingstoke, for 12 years.

Born on November 11, 1912, she spent most of her life in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

During World War Two, she became a Sergeant in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she worked as a chef while her husband William was stationed with the British Army in India.

Her daughter Corinne said: “She was a wonderful cook and made the most wonderful things.

“She’s had a hard life and was one of seven children and they had no money. She’s an absolute sweetheart with a wonderful sense of humour.”