'ALWAYS look on the bright side of life': the sage advice of Hilda Keegan who turned 100 years old today.

Mrs Keegan, who lives in Blackbird Leys, kicked-off her day of celebrations at her local hair salon in Cowley – Hi Lites.

Hairdresser and salon manager Christine Cook has been doing Mrs Keegan’s hair for the past 30 years and said she was a cherished customer at Hi Lites.

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As she sat underneath the hair dryer, Mrs Keegan said: “They all look after me so well here and take care of the older people.”

Ms Cook has even been to Mrs Keegan’s home to do her hair when she was not well enough to go out to the salon.

She said: “Hilda is a remarkable woman.

"The older ladies who come here have gotten old with us – we all grew together and, although it sounds cheesy, we’re a family.”

Oxford Mail:

Mrs Keegan usually gets her hair washed and set in curls by Ms Cook.

At the party today, music included The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck.

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Mrs Keegan, who has a daughter, grandson and great-grandson, enjoys dancing and loved to dance with her husband Bob who passed away when he was 79.

Originally a painter and decorator in Lancashire where the couple grew up, he later worked at the Pressed Steel radiator factory in Summertown when they moved here in 1959.

Mrs Keegan said two highlights of her life were getting married in 1939 and when he returned home from serving in the Second World War on June, 6 1946.

Asked for some words of wisdom, she said: "Never look on the dark side of life. Always be positive.”