THERE were celebrations galore when a Droitwich resident marked her 100th birthday with family and friends.

Elsie Thomas celebrated her birthday at Rashwood Residential and Nursing Care Home last Thursday.

The former St Andrew's Close resident was born at Brook End Cottage in Welland in 1903 and spent many happy childhood years in Malvern.

Elsie took up a position at the Grosvenor Hotel in Malvern where she met her late husband, Arnold, in 1927 and seven years later the couple moved to Droitwich.

Looking back on life as a child she fondly remembers how important horses were for transport and how fire engines relied upon them to race to an accident. But the technological achievement that most impressed Elsie in her lifetime was Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969.

Grasping hold of her telegram from the Queen, she said: "Everyone talked about the moon but walk on it? That was unthinkable!"

Elsie, who is known for her caring attitude and her love of dressing well, also loves to knit for charity and is passionate about crosswords.

When asked what her secret to reaching 100 is, she said: "I'm a lucky person and do everything in moderation. I am very grateful for being so well and thank God each night for keeping me mentally agile."