A LYMINGTON woman known for her sunny, positive outlook on life has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Ethel Somerville welcomed family and friends to her party at Colten Care’s Court Lodge care home where she has lived since 2013.

As well as enjoying a glass of champagne and a piece of birthday cake, Ethel was thrilled to receive a greeting card from the Queen.

When Ethel was born, the second youngest of seven children, George V was King, Herbert Asquith was Prime Minister and World War One still had more than two years to run.

During World War Two, she served in the women’s branch of the British Army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service. This is also when she met her future husband Eldon, a member of the Canadian armed forces.

The couple later moved to Canada where they started a farm on virgin land in the prairies without electricity or any other facilities.

Once the farm was developed, they both switched careers, Eldon becoming a teacher and Ethel the local postmistress.

She only returned to England in the early 1980s, joining her four sisters in Lymington and spending many happy hours as a volunteer serving teas and coffees at the town’s New Street community centre.

Ethel's nieces Elaine Mitchell and Jean Oliver both praised her approach to life.

Jean said: “She has always made the best of things. Her glass is half full, not half empty.”

Elaine added: “She is very positive and always looks on the bright side. In the past few years she has the care received at Court Lodge to thank for achieving the amazing milestone of her 100th birthday.”