Bailey House, Alresford's Abbeyfield home, celebrated the 100th birthday of one of its residents on Saturday.

A tiny lady, with a charming gentle smile, Edith Hiscott enjoyed being the centre of attention as she sat in her balloon-decorated wheelchair.

She was happily surrounded by her friends, including her fellow residents, and her family had come from a distance to be with her.

Her nephew, Paul Hiscott, with his wife and three of his four children, had travelled from Liverpool and Paul's mother, Violet, had come from Midhurst.

Paul described Edith as always being jolly.

Born at Pirbright, she trained as a teacher at Bishop Otter College, Chichester.

Bishop's Sutton residents have very fond memories of her as the last headmistress of the village school, living at the schoolhouse with her mother.

Edith was also organist at the village church, a job she carried on long after her retirement when she moved to Alresford, first to Drove Lane and then to Arlebury.

Edith joined the Townswomen's Guild, the Mothers' Union and Old Alresford Women's Institute.

Upon giving up her post as organist at St Nicholas', Bishop's Sutton, she became a regular worshipper at St John's Church, Alresford.

Edith, who is Alresford's oldest inhabitant, was delighted to receive a card from the Queen.