NOT even a broken hip could get in the way of Gladys Todd celebrating her 100th birthday in style.

While Mrs Todd, from Ardley, near Bicester, lay recovering in hospital, she was unaware of family plans for her surprise birthday celebration.

On Saturday, family members were allowed to take Mrs Todd from Bicester Community Hospital for the day, to wheel her across to her surprise party round the corner.

Daughter Joy Waitland said: “We were going to arrange a party but then my mum broke her hip and has been in Bicester Community Hospital, but we still wanted to try and throw a party to celebrate.

“It cheered her up no end to come out of the hospital and have all her relations there.

“We had the Brackley choir come along and she actually sang along to Cockles and Mussels.

“She said she didn’t know what all the fuss was about.

“She was a bit emotional – we all were really – but with happy tears.”

About 50 guests gathered to celebrate the mother-of-three’s milestone birthday at the Littlebury Hotel, in Kings End, just a short walk from the hospital.

Mrs Todd has been in hospital for five weeks after breaking her hip.

Treatment started at the Horton General in Banbury before she was moved to Bicester Community Hospital for physiotherapy.

Mrs Waitland said her mother’s secret for surviving to 100 was “never smoking, never drinking and going to bed at 9.30pm every night”.

She added: “ She has had quite a hard life as she lost her mother at 12 and was one of four children, but she is someone that just gets on with it like you did in those days.

“She married my dad Richard Hollis, known to friends and family as Dick. He was a policeman and they had three children – me, Tony and Gerald.

“We are so lucky she has always been there for us. She is always happy and has always been joyful.”

Mrs Todd now lives in Ardley with her second husband Don Todd, and they have now been together for nearly 40 years.

Mrs Todd’s parents came from Brackley, near Bicester, and spent time living in France before later moving back to the area.

The mother-of-three is also step-mum to one, step-grandmother to one, grandmother to four and great-grandmother to nine.