Electricity had not arrived when Florence Baldwin spent her childhood in Charlbury.

Water was pumped by hand from the well and if you wanted to travel it was in the main by horse and cart.

Although Mrs Baldwin, pictured, was born at Egham in Surrey on June 17, 1907, within three months her family had moved to Charlbury.

On Sunday she celebrated her centenary with a gathering of family and close friends at the Ramping Cat Nursing Home, near Burford.

She only moved there less than three years ago, having spent 97 years of her life in Charlbury.

She was married to Mervyn for over 62 years until his death in 1995, together helping to run a family drapery business, Bon Marche, in Market Street.

They sold the business in the late 1950s but remained in Charlbury.

Mrs Baldwin, neé Harris, has no children but has an extended family.

Nephew Richard Baldwin, of High Street, Long Wittenham, said: "Florence remains an inspiration as, in spite of severe arthritis restricting her to a wheelchair, she is cheerful and always delighted to see family and friends."