CENTENARIAN Catherine Taylor celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends from nearby and across the world.

Some 40 people attended a party at her home at Margery Girling House, Gosford Way, Felixstowe, including family from America, Norway and Germany, along with guests mayor and mayoress, Mike and Anne Deacon.

Mrs Taylor, who remains fiercely independent and enjoys looking after herself, said the secret to her longevity was keeping busy and a glass of red wine a day.

She was born in Ringham Road, Ipswich, the eldest of four children, on March 17, 1913, and moved to Felixstowe as a youngster.

It was while helping her mother at The Rathbone bed and breakfast for commercial travellers, today the premises of Hamilton Tea Rooms, Hamilton Road, that she met her husband Maurice, who was serving at RAF Felixstowe.

During their married life they were stationed at several RAF bases in England and had a two-and-a-half year posting to Germany.

Mrs Taylor, who has been a widow for 26 years, has always enjoyed sewing and reading, played darts at the Half Moon pub in Walton, and worked as a clerical assistant at RAF Bentwaters.

She has three children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.