MARGARET Hoddinott celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday in the building where she first went to school.

Miss Hoddinott marked the occasion with family and friends at the old St Katharine’s School – now St Katharine’s House care home – in Ormond Road, Wantage, where she has lived since 2003.

Born in Lockinge, where her father ran a farm, Miss Hoddinott has lived in the Wantage area all her life.

Her god-daughter, Sally Green, 62, from Stow-on-the-Wold, said Miss Hoddinott was born on the farm and her parents had to wait for the doctor to deliver his wife’s baby before he came to them.

She added: “She was born prematurely and was very tiny. The doctor looked at her and said: ‘This one won’t last very long’.”

Miss Hoddinott helped set up the Church Street Practice and worked there for about 30 years as an administrator.

She also served in the auxiliary Territorial Army during the Second World War, organising the payment of soldiers’ wages.

Staff at the home baked cakes and relatives brought a special birthday cake for yesterday’s celebration.

Miss Hoddinott, pictured, said: “I thought it was marvellous when I got a birthday card from the Queen.”