A woman has celebrated her 102nd birthday at a care home in St Ives

Jean Grabaskey, who lives at Care UK’s Field Lodge care home on London Road, has been treated to a big birthday bash to mark the milestone birthday.

After celebrating many happy years, Jean shared that her key to a long life is to 'work hard' and ‘not let a day pass without having a tipple’.

The Care UK’s Field Lodge team got into the birthday spirit and decorated the home with balloons and banners and threw Jean a birthday party with her family and friends at the home.

To make the occasion extra special, the home’s talented head chef also baked Jean a special birthday cake.

Commenting on her big day, Jean said: “I feel blessed to have reached 102 – it was lovely to spend the day with my family.”

Jean was born in Nottingham in 1921.

In 1943, aged 22, she qualified as a nurse and went on to join the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service which saw her work in Netley, Hitchin and Botley Park War Hospital in Surrey.

During her nursing career, Jean worked across the world helping care for injured soldiers, taking her to France, Belgium, India and Kenya.

While stationed in Nairobi, Jean met her husband, Hedley, who was working as a Captain in the Royal Army Dental Corps.

The couple were married in 1949 and went on to have three daughters.

Home manager at Field Lodge, Linda Martinez: “We all had a wonderful time celebrating Jean’s birthday – she is a much-loved member of the Field Lodge family and always puts a smile on our faces.”

“It was an honour to raise a glass for Jean’s special day and it’s a privilege to have her here at Field Lodge!”