SHE has lived through troubling economic times, wars and periods of massive social change.

And today, Alice Smith is still going strong as she celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by family and friends at Maynell House Care Home in Felixstowe.

Mrs Smith was born in Sweffling on December 9, 1912 and moved to Trimley St Martin when she was young so her father could work on a farm.

After leaving school she went into ‘service’ with a family and moved to London with them, shortly before war broke out.

During the Second World War she moved back to Trimley St Martin and she has lived in the area ever since.

She has five children – four sons and a daughter – and she had two husbands – Laurence Hill and Fredrick Smith.

Les Hill, Mrs Smith’s son, said: “She brought all five of us up with no father and she insisted that all four boys got a trade, which we did.

“She never inherited any money in her life – whatever she has had, she has had to work for.”

Mrs Smith has 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and she also has great great grandchildren.