Birthday joy for Marjorie Nutton, 101, and Irene Harris, 105

Great grandmothers Marjorie Nutton, 101, and Irene Harris, 105, are among the residents at Kingfishers, New Milton, where staff granted their birthday wishes.

One of the women was literally given the red carpet treatment as she marked her big day.

Rose Arcellana, companionship team leader at the home, said: "When we asked Irene what she wanted to do, she said she'd love to be treated like a queen for the day.

“Her wish was our command.

"We dressed her with a crown and a gown and laid out a red carpet so she could arrive at her very own royal afternoon tea party in style.

“For her part, Marjorie was able to welcome her three sons, daughter, son-in-law and grandson for a wonderful family get-together.

“She also received lots of beautiful flowers and Postcards of Kindness from well-wishers across the UK.”

Reflecting on her "regal birthday" at the home, Irene said: “I am delighted and I thank everyone for making my wishes come true.”

Beata Brzozowska, the manager, added: “When you consider that Irene was born during the First World War, and Marjorie just three years after, it shows how remarkable their lifetimes have been.

“It was truly an honour and a privilege to help them celebrate their birthdays.”

Irene’s earliest memories are of walking in her home city of Birmingham at a time when horse and carts were still a common sight in the streets.

During the Second World War she served in a munitions factory while Lancashire-born Marjorie was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, known as the ATS.

The organisation was formed in 1938 and by 1941 had 65,000 members, including the young Princess Elizabeth and Mary Soames, the youngest of Winston Churchill's five children. Many joined anti-aircraft units.

Kingfishers, which is rated "outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission, is run by the family-run Colten Care.

Colten Care owns and operates 21 care homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and West Sussex.