THE Blagrove clan took over a whole pub this weekend to celebrate a 100th birthday.

Sylvia Blagrove, pictured centre with her family, was born on July 26, 1911, and more than 60 people turned up to toast her life at the Crown Inn in Church Enstone.

Jerry Blagrove, her son, said: “Everybody had a nice time. Her sister Audrey came down from Yorkshire and she’s 89.”

Mrs Blagrove was given many gifts, but was particularly delighted with her birthday card from the Queen.

Mr Blagrove said: “She was exceptionally pleased with her card. She was also given 10 big bouquets of flowers. The tributes kept flooding in. She’s very well respected and very well known.”

She was also given a surprise present of a teak chair by the people of Radford, which the family were very grateful for.

Mrs Blagrove was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, and has lived in Willow Brook Cottage, Radford, for 50 years.

Before that she lived in Germany for two years while her husband, Paul Blagrove, served in the military there.

She was married to Paul for 47 years until he died in 1988, and they had three children, Gerald, Anthony and Lynne.

Mrs Blagrove said: “I had a wonderful time. All my friends and relations were there and, of course, the weather held out.

“The flowers were lovely but it was their presence I valued most.”