GREAT-grandmother Elsie Hoare celebrated turning 100 with a slice of cake.

Mrs Hoare, who has 51 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was surrounded by her family as she celebrated the special milestone.

Mrs Hoare was taken out for a party at the Old Court Hotel, in Bridge Street, Witney, just across the road from Mill House Care Home, where she lives.

Her 52-year-old son Eric, one of seven children, said: “I think she was overwhelmed by it all.

“We just had the one candle on the birthday cake and she appreciated her card from the Queen.

“I think it was all a bit too much for her. We come from a big family and we broke it down into little groups to make it easier for her.”

In addition to her seven children, Mrs Hoare has 26 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, many of whom attended the party or visited her during the day.

Mr Hoare, from Barton, said: “Her family is all around west Oxfordshire. They date back in this part of the county to the 15th century. She lived in Barton for most of her life but she also lived in York and Barnsley, because of my father’s work.”

Born in Witney on December 14, 1911, Mrs Hoare enjoyed travelling the globe when she was younger, including visiting members of her family in the US.

Mr Hoare said: “She loved travelling. She used to go out for two weeks then phone me up to say she was staying a little bit longer.”

Mrs Hoare moved back to Witney three years ago in order to live at Mill House, because she suffers from dementia.

She worked at Smith’s blanket mill in Witney before marrying her husband Horace in 1932 at Witney Register Office. Her husband, who was a builder, died in 1970 at the age of 63.

Mr Hoare said: “She coped really well with having so many children and she enjoyed it having all her family around her for her birthday.”

dfantato@oxfordmail.co.uk