Newest family addition joins centenarian's party

Gwendoline Hayler was able to see one-year-old Sophie Sharpe for the first time at the special celebration.

Sophie was taken along to the party by her mum, Jane Sharpe, from their home in Surrey.

Mrs Hayler's daughter, Beryl Lowe, said: "It was lovely for my mother to see the baby. She was quite thrilled about her."

Mrs Hayler's family consists of three children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Many of her relatives were present for the party on Sundayat Cherington Nursing Home in Stocker Road.

They joined the home's other residents for a musical show staged by The Miller Men entertainers as well as sharing a birthday cake.

Mrs Hayler was born in India where her father worked on the country's railways. Her mother died in India before Mrs Hayler first saw England aged about six.

She and her father settled in Hendon in north London where she went to school. He remarried and she had a stepsister and stepbrother.

Mrs Hayler initially worked in nursing after she left school before she became a book-keeper.

She married her late husband, Richard, in 1930. They moved out of London 12 years later to Molesey in Surrey. Mrs Hayler worked in various office jobs for most of her married life. In her spare time, she was the treasurer of her local Scout troop.

She continued to live in Surrey until her move to the nursing home in September 2006. She was modest about reaching her century. "I've just lived a normal life," she said. "I don't feel any different now to any other time."

Mrs Lowe added: "My mother's always been hard working. My father was often ill and she took on the role of provider."