A NURSE who travelled the world to care for the sick and went on to volunteer at Poole Hospital until she was 97 has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Clarice Sumption was born on July 15, 1915, in Leicester – just months after the sinking of the Lusitania and in the same year Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity.

One of three children, Clarice recalls a happy childhood, including screaming from the Filbert Street stands in support of her beloved Leicester City.

Always passionate about caring for others, she went on to train as both a state registered nurse and midwife.

And in 1946 she moved to Singapore with the army to use her vocation at a time when the island city-state was suffering severe food shortages resulting in disease and malnutrition.

She returned home in 1949 before heading to Kenya in 1951, where she stayed until 1954.

“I was there during the Mau Mau uprising,” she recalls. “I can tell you – it was quite an experience. The Mau Mau would sometimes come into our hospital gardens – it was a volatile time, but we had the army all around protecting us.”

Just prior to leaving for Africa Clarice had met Terry, who she stayed in touch with by letter. On her return home they married and had children Annette and Claire.

Clarice retired as a nurse at 62, staying an additional two years after retirement age – but continued volunteering in the community, helping at a hearing aid clinic and providing meals on wheels.

“When you work and reach retirement age I think a lot of people don’t feel ready to give it up – and I was one of those,” she said.

Remarkably she was still helping at the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service cafe at Poole Hospital until the age of 97.

Asked by the Echo what the secret to her longevity is, she replied: “There is no secret. You just go on living. I don’t think there’s anything particularly special about me – lots of people are living longer now, lots of people are reaching 100. I'm just very lucky I still have all my marbles."

Clarice had two parties to celebrate the milestone birthday, the first at the Grasshopper pub in Parkstone and the second on Friday surrounded by friends at Wellington Court, Westbourne, where she resides in a retirement flat.

“It’s been unexpected to have so many come here to wish me well,” she said. “It’s been the longest birthday I can remember.”