A FORMER children’s nurse and assistant matron has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Phyllis Smith marked her milestone by enjoying a party with fellow residents at Farway Grange care home in Queen’s Park.

Born in Chart Sutton, Kent, Phyllis was the middle child of a family of five. During the years between the two world wars, her father Charles Smith became a leading producer of Kentish Cobnuts which he supplied to a local confectionary factory in Maidstone.

Phyllis trained as a nursery nurse at the prestigious St Christopher’s College and then worked as a nanny for several leading families before becoming disillusioned with the lifestyle.

After re-training to work with children with learning disabilities, Phyllis worked at a hospital at South Ockendon in Essex. She was then promoted and moved to the Fountain Hospital in Tooting, London.

Towards the end of her career Phyllis was an assistant matron at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Carshalton, Surrey. During this time she served on the General Nursing Council.

She retired in 1974 and lived an active life in Tooting, New Alresford and Ferndown before moving to Farway Grange in 2008.

Phyllis is the favourite aunt to her younger sister’s two children. She has become a great-aunt seven times and is also a great-great-aunt seven times.