A HOST of family and friends, some of whom had come from far and wide, gathered at Waverley Grange Care Home on Sunday, May 8. to celebrate the 100th birthday of resident Anne Shott.

Anne was born in Germany and came to Britain as a refugee before the Second World War. During the war, she worked for a time at the BBC monitoring service, listening in to German broadcasts.

She lived in the same house in London from 1947 to 2015. She worked typing manuscripts for people, including the economist Sir Samuel Britten and Lord Lawson, finally retiring in 1994 at the age of 78.

To add to the celebrations, her son Peter had secretly arranged for the Vivaldi Singers to perform a selection of music for Anne as she is a keen music lover.

All gathered round and listened to a short, varied programme of songs including The Linden Tree, The Rose, Three Little Maids from School Are We, an excerpt from West Side Story, the Hallelujah Chorus and, of course, a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday from everyone.

Lindsey Mills of the Vivaldi Singers said: “It was a pleasure for the Vivaldi Singers to be a part of this special event to celebrate one extraordinary lady’s 100th birthday.”