A FORMER lecturer who lived through two world wars was “overwhelmed” by her 100th birthday celebrations on Wednesday, her son said.

Two separate parties were thrown for Isabel Turner, a resident at St John’s care home in St Mary’s Road, Cowley, and the lucky centenarian even cut two cakes.

Son William Turner, 72, said: “She has been a bit overwhelmed. She had a dedication on BBC Radio Oxford this morning – I asked them to play Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder – and she had a Skype chat with her great-granddaughter Esme, who was born just a few months ago.”

Mrs Turner was born on May 26, 1915 in Stepney in London’s East End. She and her large family stayed put throughout both World Wars and were bombed out twice.

As a young woman she trained as a secretary and worked for the Daily Mirror and a series of insurance and freight companies. During the Second World War, Mrs Turner, then working in Tottenham Court Road, narrowly escaped being killed by a V2 rocket because she had doubled back to read a film poster.

After the war Mrs Turner, who had married husband Jack in 1939, worked as a primary school teacher before taking a business degree, finally becoming a lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College, London. She worked part-time up until the age of 85 before moving to St John’s to be closer to her son.

Mr Turner, himself a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, said: “She came from humble beginnings and did very well. She is helpful to anybody and everybody, quite a political campaigner and a militant vegetarian. She is a great believer in peace.”

About 20 visitors came in the morning to visit Mrs Turner at the 38-bedroom home, which is based in the grounds of the Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor.

Residents and relatives liaison officer Leslie Troth said: “It was brilliant. We had residents come to the dining room and a lady playing piano, who did renditions of Happy Birthday and For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.

“There was plenty of wine going around, and afternoon tea. Isabel read out her card from the Queen; she was exhausted by the end. Everybody gets a birthday cake, but at St John’s, 100th birthdays are something we pride ourselves on.”