Harriet Brookes, who has spent the last ten years at Patchett Lodge, in Arthurs Avenue, reflected on her life as she celebrated her 102nd birthday with her family and friends on Friday.

She grew up in Stukeley Road – a stone's throw from where she lives now – and, as the only girl in her family, she remarked on how different it is for young people growing up nowadays.

She said: "I grew up with six brothers and they would look out for me and fetch me in at curfew time. They were lovely, happy days.

"My mother was a marvellous woman who was very thorough but I did have to do things to help clean up after the boys. Nowadays girls just go out and enjoy themselves and I can't blame them!"

Harriet met her husband Arthur at a young age, a moment she describes as "love at first sight", when they first saw each other on opposite sides of a railway crossing. They married at Holbeach Church.

Arthur died many years ago, as did her six brothers, but she still has her daughter Margaret and a number of nephews and nieces.

Her longest serving job was at Chamberlain's Printers in Holbeach where she worked for nine and a half years as a proof reader.

Harriet is now very happy at Patchett Lodge, having previously lived in Fen Road and Spalding Road in Holbeach, and said finding happiness has led to her having such a long life.

She added: "I'm happy just being my ordinary self.

"If I'm content then I'm all right.

"I'm very, very happy here at Patchett Lodge where I'm well looked after and I've been well looked after all my life."