Friends and relatives travelled from afar to attend a special event in Teddington where Linda Apthorpe celebrated her 100th birthday.

Although Miss Apthorpe never married and has no immediate family of her own, a number of distant relatives came from the US and Scotland to join the party at Deer Park View care home, in Bushy Park Road.

Miss Apthorpe, a former headmistress of a Chiswick school, who retired aged 60, enjoyed the party where she took time to reminisce with old friends, smiling and laughing.

Carer Christina Mitchell said: “Despite the fact that she can’t walk, she’s in good health. She even went shopping with a friend before the party to get something nice to wear for the occasion.”

She said the guests had a lovely time at the party, between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday, May 29.

She added: “There was cake and lots of balloons and all 24 guests were enjoying themselves.”