A TEST Valley resident who turned 100 has received a gift from an unexpected source.

Peggy Beesley, from Wherwell, was surprised by staff at the Waitrose store in Andover last Wednesday when she was presented with a selection of gifts to mark her milestone birthday.

The former railway worker, who had already received her Royal card earlier that day, was gifted a bottle of champagne, a bunch of flowers and a hamper of goodies by the store’s department manager Nathan Ibbotson and colleague Kate Hunter.

However it all came as a surprise to the greatgrandmother-of-11, who was only visiting the shop to buy biscuits in preparation for her family’s visit that weekend.

Mrs Beesley, who is still an active member of Chilbolton Women’s Institute, said: “I didn’t expect it at all – it was nice. I got my card from the Queen.

“I knew it was coming but it still came as a nice surprise when I opened the post.”

The gift was organised after Mrs Beesley’s daughter Sue Blazdell contacted the store to tell them that weekly shopper Peggy was about to reach her 100th birthday.

Mr Ibbotson then organised the presents with store personnel manager Bec Stewart before making contact with Mrs Blazdell to arrange the surprise.

He said: “Something we pride ourselves on is our fantastic customer service so it is nice when you get an opportunity to do something like this.

“A lot of our partners got really excited about it and wanted to be a part of it.”

Mrs Blazdell said: “They were great to do something like this.”

The retired environmental health officer added: “Mum thought it was wonderful and she was very touched.”

Mrs Beesley was then thrown a village party before her relatives visited for a family gathering.