Mary enjoys the birthday she was not expected to see

A birthday card from the Queen and a visit by Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon to Aaron Manor Rest Home on Easter Monday proved how far wrong that prediction was.

Mary was celebrating her 100th birthday.

Aaron Manor was en fete. Coloured banners proclaimed the big day. Mary was holding court in the lounge among her visitors and family, the recipient of countless gifts and bunches of flowers and wearing a "birthday girl" headdress.

Mary has been a popular resident at the home since moving from the former nearby Roman Catholic convent, Nazareth House, when it closed.

In addition to the Mayor, her guests on Monday included her sister, Betty Barnes, her nephew Anthony Barnes and her niece Sylvia Darrracott.

An organist who is visitor who is always well-received at Aaron Manor was playing as Mary's family helped her with her Observer interview.

That ahead-of-schedule arrival in life was at Hammersmith in London. Mary lived there until she moved to Eastbournee to care for an aunt before the war.

Caring for others has been the hallmark of Mary Challis' long life.

Her war service was spent nursing disabled people.

She was a devoted St John Ambulance volunteer for many years and was popularly known as "Challey" in the charity's service.

Her work for St John was acknowledged when with other volunteers she was received by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Together with a visit to Lourdres, where St Bernadette saw her visions of the Virgin Mary, meeting the Queen Mother is one the most cherished memories of a long life.

Mary worked as a nurse for the Dental Estimates Board at Eastbourne from the end of the Second World War until she retired at 60.

Summing up her sister's character, Betty Barnes said: "She was always doing something for others.

"She was always knitting.

"When I was a child - nobody had any money then - she came home one Christmas with a Christmas tree for me.

"That was typical of her.

"She would never ever forget a birthday.

"She's been a wonderful sister."

Mary is also much loved by the staff and fellow residents at Aaron Manor, where a special party with - of course - a very special birthday cake awaited the "birthday girl."

Assistant manager Mary Tapley said: "She keeps asking what all the fuss is about!

"She is always telling us that she never expected to get to 100 because she was born prematurely and not expected to live.

"She's a very sweet lady.

"I expect she will get up and dance later on. She always does when we have music. She loves it."

A birthday card from the Queen and a visit by Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon to Aaron Manor Rest Home on Easter Monday proved how far wrong that prediction was.

Mary was celebrating her 100th birthday.

Aaron Manor was en fete. Coloured banners proclaimed the big day. Mary was holding court in the lounge among her visitors and family, the recipient of countless gifts and bunches of flowers and wearing a "birthday girl" headdress.

Mary has been a popular resident at the home since moving from the former nearby Roman Catholic convent, Nazareth House, when it closed.

In addition to the Mayor, her guests on Monday included her sister, Betty Barnes, her nephew Anthony Barnes and her niece Sylvia Darrracott.

An organist who is visitor who is always well-received at Aaron Manor was playing as Mary's family helped her with her Observer interview.

That ahead-of-schedule arrival in life was at Hammersmith in London. Mary lived there until she moved to Eastbournee to care for an aunt before the war.

Caring for others has been the hallmark of Mary Challis' long life.

Her war service was spent nursing disabled people.

She was a devoted St John Ambulance volunteer for many years and was popularly known as "Challey" in the charity's service.

Her work for St John was acknowledged when with other volunteers she was received by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Together with a visit to Lourdres, where St Bernadette saw her visions of the Virgin Mary, meeting the Queen Mother is one the most cherished memories of a long life.

Mary worked as a nurse for the Dental Estimates Board at Eastbourne from the end of the Second World War until she retired at 60.

Summing up her sister's character, Betty Barnes said: "She was always doing something for others.

"She was always knitting.

"When I was a child - nobody had any money then - she came home one Christmas with a Christmas tree for me.

"That was typical of her.

"She would never ever forget a birthday.

"She's been a wonderful sister."

Mary is also much loved by the staff and fellow residents at Aaron Manor, where a special party with - of course - a very special birthday cake awaited the "birthday girl."

Assistant manager Mary Tapley said: "She keeps asking what all the fuss is about!

"She is always telling us that she never expected to get to 100 because she was born prematurely and not expected to live.

"She's a very sweet lady.

"I expect she will get up and dance later on. She always does when we have music. She loves it."