TWO centenarians celebrated their 100th birthday with friends and family from as far away as New Zealand.

Elizabeth Hawkins’s nephew Billy Rhodes, from Spain, and niece Valerie Hair, from New Zealand, were among the guests who celebrated her birthday yesterday.

And Margery Marrion’s great-great niece took part in celebrations to honour her milestone birthday.

Mrs Hawkins, of Oaken Holt Nursing Home in Farmoor, said: “It is lovely to see all my family, especially the people who have come from abroad.

“I’m all ready to celebrate with my friends and family. My carers have been wonderful and have done my hair specially.”

Mrs Hawkins, nee Roman, was born in Ireland in 1911, one of seven children, and moved to Plymouth when she was 16.

She met her first husband, John O’Neill, while working there and the two were married in 1932. Their son Patrick was born in August 1935.

But at the outbreak of war in 1939, Mr O’Neill was sent abroad to fight with the British Navy and was killed while serving on HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean in 1941.

The ship was damaged after being attacked by German planes.

Mrs Hawkins, who has one grandson, Shaun, and a great-grandson, Ryan, moved to Oxford in 1947 and began working at the Lyons Bakery.

She met her second husband, Bert Hawkins, and the two moved to Kennington in 1953. He died in 1985.

Son Patrick said: “She is most definitely a great mother and we are all very close as a family.

“We all live in Oxfordshire and see each other a lot.”

Mrs Marrion celebrated her birthday at the St Andrew’s Care Home in Headington on Saturday.

She enjoyed a small party with friends and family including niece Jean Jordan, great-niece Sarah Roberts, andhusband Andy and great-great niece Izzy.

Mrs Marrion was married to Derrick for more than 50 years until his death in 1991. They lived in Kennington and Headington.

Mrs Jordan, 68, said: “Both Margery and her husband worked for the GPO, which became BT.

“They loved each other and were so into each other, they didn’t need anyone else. They walked hand-in-hand everywhere, right up until his death.”