GLAMOROUS birthday girl Muriel Rae celebrated her 101st birthday in style last week.

Staff and residents at Queensmead care home in Christchurch held a special celebration to mark the important milestone.

Bouquets of flowers flooded into the home from family and friends and her room was filled with cards. She celebrated with a birthday lunch with some of her closest friends –with one travelling all the way down from London that morning to celebrate with her.

One of Muriel’s friends baked a special birthday cake, decorated with pink icing roses, which she enjoyed with her fellow residents during afternoon tea.

She finished the day with one of her favourite snacks – a cup of tea with chocolate Turkish Delight.

Born in 1913 in Mountain Ash, Wales, Muriel moved to London to work in service at the age of 14. She moved to Bournemouth a few years later to work as a waitress in a local hotel with her aunt, and went on to run a boarding house on Holdenhurst Road. She worked there until she retired, when she moved to Highcliffe to make the most of the sunshine.

At Queensmead, Muriel enjoys sitting in the sun, chatting with her friends and popping into town to do some shopping – and to treat herself to her favourite sweet milky coffee and chocolate pastry.

Janine May, home manager at Queensmead, said: “We were delighted to be able to celebrate with her. She is a popular resident and is a real character.

“She’s always very glamorous and looked especially lovely on her birthday. When asked about her secret to long life, Muriel replies that a good face cream and plenty of sunshine work wonders.”