ALICE Pulham turned 100 on Monday and celebrated with a party attended by 70 guests, including relatives and friends, at Shottermill House Christian Care Home in Haslemere.
Two mayors joined in the celebrations. The mayor of Waverley, John Sandy and his wife Clare, and Haslmere town mayor William King and his wife Carole, spoke kindly of Alice and joined in the presentations and cutting of the cake. They presented a lovely crested ornament, and handed Alice the important card and telegram from the Queen.
Alice grew up in south-east London with her five sisters and one brother, where she attended Western Street School and left at the age of 14 to work for Express Dairies. Friends and relatives from London were also among guests who came to the party.
During the war years, Alice worked as manageress for a restaurant near Covent Garden. This was a reserved occupation so Alice did not have to join the forces. Alice remembers that when the sirens went off all the customers had to be evacuated to the nearest shelter.
Alice worked for Express Dairies for 30 years and still wears the gold watch they presented to her when she retired.
She moved to Shottermill House with her friend Rose in February 1995.
Alice was a member of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church in London for 83 years and although she can no longer worship there, Alice joins in the care home's services with the other residents.
Paul Mason, manager of Shottermill House, led the proceedings and Reverend Charles Sleeman led the guests in a service of thanksgiving.