A woman from Twickenham who still lives alone and cares for herself celebrated her 102nd birthday this month.

Ethel Berry, who has lived in Gloucester Road for 64 years, reached the milestone on February 15, having lived through two world wars, surviving four monarchs and seeing 19 Prime Ministers lead the country.

Born in Fulham in 1913, Ms Berry left school aged just 14 and worked at Barkers in Kensington until she married in 1954 and moved to Twickenham.

In a remarkable coincidence of names, her husband was called Ethelred and they married at Ethelreda's Church, Fulham, in 1954.

The couple celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary in 2007 surrounded by their children, son Anthony and his wife Anne, daughter Annette and her husband, Terry, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Despite later enjoying 73 happy years of marriage until her husband died aged 99 in 2011, she suffered tragedy aged six when her father, Ted, died suddenly from pneumonia.

She said: "There was no welfare state and my mother was forced to work as a cook and cleaner to support my brother and me.

"I was moved from pillar to post between my mother’s friends - it made me very lonely and quiet."

Ms Berry also recalls childhood memories of her older brother Fred cutting her finger nails.

She said: "He cut off the tip of my finger accidentally, but I never made a peep, even back then.

"I was what you call placid, still am."

Her children, who were both educated at Trafalgar Junior School and then Kneller School and Orleans School respectively, still visit her weekly.

Ms Berry added her secret to happy and long life has been not to get involved in any arguments.

She said: "I don’t like arguments, anything for a peaceful life.

"When you live through two world wars, you are grateful just for peace."