VERA Allen, who lives in Barton, will today celebrate her 100th birthday with her family.

After getting a card from the Queen on her birthday yesterday, she will be joined by family and friends for a birthday tea at Townsend House care home in Bayswater Road today.

Among those joining Vera, pictured, for the party will be daughter Barbara Hughes, 69, right, granddaughter Elaine Warner, 43, left, and great granddaughter Hayley Warner, 20, back.

Mrs Allen has lived at the nursing home for the past three years.

Mrs Warner, from Stanton St John, said: “Family and friends are all looking forward to celebrating Vera’s birthday and we have got her a special cake.”

Mrs Hughes, who also lives in Stanton St John, said: “Before mum moved into the care home she lived at her home in Collingwood Close, Risinghurst, for about 70 years.

“My father, Cyril Allen, who was a compositor for the Oxford Mail, died 30 years ago but mum carried on living in the house.

“Mum had two children but my sister Judith died when she was 15, so I have been in charge of looking after her.”

Mrs Hughes said her mother, who originally came from Swindon, worked as a bookbinder before she was married in Swindon in 1935.

Shortly after Mr and Mrs Allen married, they moved to North Oxford where they stayed for about two years before moving to Risinghurst.

Mrs Hughes added: “Mum has always kept herself very busy and her hobbies include knitting toys for her grandchildren and doing crosswords.

“When I asked mum how she felt about making it to 100 she laughed and said ‘that’s nothing — I shall make it to 200!’”

Mrs Allen has two grandchildren and five great grandchildren and they will all attend the birthday tea today.