A FORMER nurse who until recently patrolled the corridors of her nursing home to check on its residents celebrated her 104th birthday last week.

Eileen Feaver “enjoyed a lovely party” with staff, family and friends at the Corner House Care Home on Tuesday October 11.

Daughter Carol Farrow said her mum “does extraordinarily well” and enjoyed joining in with the celebrations.

Carol said: “When she first went into the home 12 years ago, she used to do a ward round because she’s an ex-nurse. She did that until a few years ago.”

The 76-year-old, who was also a nurse, said her mum is “a great personality with a great sense of humour.”

As to the secret of such a long life, Carol said her brother lived to 99, her mum likes sherry and wine, and she enjoyed a good social life and keeping active.

“When you think she lived through two world wars, she didn’t follow any faddy diets. She’s been extra-ordinarily lucky with her life,” added Carol, who also lives in Wash Lane, Clacton.

Born Eileen Chapman in Malling, Kent, on October 11 1916, Eileen was educated in Rochester and became a nurse, finally retiring in 1966.

She married Ken Feaver in Wouldham, Kent, who worked in insurance.

They had a daughter and two sons and having lived some years in Chelmsford and then Suffolk, they came to live in Holland-on-Sea in the early 1980s, before living in Thorpe for around 20 years.

Eileen has been a member of various Inner Wheel clubs, the Mother’s Union, and various flower arranging clubs.

In Holland and Thorpe, she was also active in the Conservative Party and was a regular at St Michael’s Church, Thorpe, also involved in its activities.

Her interest included cooking, gardening, reading, scrabble and crosswords.

Last Tuesday’s party, organised by the home, included some of Eileen’s ten grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.