Great-gran celebrates 100 years with two parties

A great-grandmother who remembers serving returning World War Two soldiers from her family chip shop has celebrated turning 100 - with two parties.

Well-wishers joined Ivy Kimber for the first event in the Windmill pub in Somersham, Cambridgeshire, the building where she was born in 1924.

A second party was held by the village's Friendship Club in Somersham Victory Hall.

Mrs Kimber thanked the King for the "lovely card" he sent.

Mrs Kimber still lives next door to the fish and chip shop where she worked from the age of 16 to 58.

She says she remembers soldiers who fought at the Battle of Dunkirk in World War Two coming into the shop on the morning after their return from the frontline.

“That was their homecoming,” she said.

The centenarian said she was “amazed” at the turnout, with more than 40 guests toasting her milestone birthday.

Her son, Barry Kimber, 76, described her as "the perfect mother".

He said the grandmother-of-two and great-grandmother-of-three had always been "a major part of the village", he said.