A SINGER and a 1920s themed party were held to celebrate the 105th birthday of a sprightly pensioner.

Dorothy Armour marked the landmark occasion with a special lunch with her close friends and family before returning to Lime Court residential home in Dovercourt for the party.

Dorothy had lived independently until last year when she moved into the home in Low Road.

Its deputy manager Robin Sayers said: “Dorothy had a lovely day.

“We had a singer come in and everyone was dancing.

“We had a 1920s theme and celebrated the things Dorothy liked.”

Dorothy was born in Ilford in 1911 and during the First World War she was evacuated to Canvey Island.

As a child, she travelled to school in a pony and trap and crossed using stepping stones to the mainland.

When she left school she took a secretarial course and graduated in 1930 with certificates in Pitman shorthand at 120 words per minute.

Her first job was working for a shoe company in Finsbury Circus in London.

During the Second World War, she worked for the County Medical Officer at County Hall in Chelmsford.

She lived with her sister during the week and helped to care for her two sons.

At the weekends, she rode her back pedaling bicycle to Fambridge to look after her parents.

After the war, Dorothy and her parents moved back to Ilford, where she became secretary to a bank manager.

However, her sister and family moved to Dovercourt in 1947 and following the death of her parents, Dorothy moved to the seaside town in 1972 and stayed ever since.

Mr Sayers added Dorothy attributes her long life to the simple things in life such as taking plenty of exercise and enjoying fresh air.