A HAMPSHIRE woman celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by family, friends and bouquets of flowers.

Winifred Denford, widow of retired chartered secretary John, enjoyed cake and a glass of pink fizz at Abbeyfield Residential Home in Twyford, where she has lived for the last four-and-a-half years.

She was joined by her daughter, three of her grandchildren and two of her eight great grandchildren for the occasion – all of whom joined in singingwith a sweet rendition of Daisy Daisy, performed by a hired singer and pianist.

Mrs Denford was born in Essex and was a dressmaker and milliner by trade before she met and married John in Brentwood. The two lived in Hounslow and Woking before retiring to Colley Close in Winchester when John retired.

John died 10 years ago.

Together tThey had two daughters – Joyce Whatley, 71, and Elizabeth Elder, now deceased. Joyce has two daughters and a son, of her own Simon, Clare Holmes and Louise Hill, and Elizabeth has Robert, Nicola and Melissa Clease, who came all the way from New Zealand for the occasion with her two children, Matthew, eight, and Isla, six.

“What a wonderful day,” Mrs Denford said. “I had no idea it would be like this. Thank you to all my family for all the joy and pleasure I’m getting out of it. They have come from so far away and it’s so wonderful.”