MANY dream of living to the age of the 100 and receiving their card from the Queen.

But one Southampton woman has gone not one, but two steps further.

Doris Ward celebrated her 102 birthday on Friday, surrounded by her friends, sandwiches and cake.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of perfume and a box of chocolates bought with a pot of money collectively put together by the residents of the Hart Court retirement complex in Sholing.

Having lived through two world wars, Doris has experienced a lot in her long life.

Growing up in Surrey, the 102-year-old lost her father during the First World War, just months after her birth.

Raised by her mother, Mrs Ward was not afraid to get her hands dirty, getting her first job in a factory where she made shopping basket, trollies, and even dart boards.

And, when World War Two broke, she enlisted in a bid to serve her country.

Following the six year conflict, Doris married her long-term partner Hugh and the couple had a baby soon after.

The mother-of-one then moved with her husband to Southampton after her daughter moved to France, as she wanted to be closer to the cross-channel ferry.

Living and retiring in Sholing, Doris and her husband enjoyed long walks through the city parks and gardens until his death almost 30 years ago.

Hart Court has been her home for the past 20 years, making her the longest-staying resident at the home.

Doris has experienced both the good and bad in life when she lost her grandson to illness when he was very young.

She said: “I suppose I am quite lucky to have reached this age.

“We always worked very hard, sometimes I think it might have been bad for my health in the factories.

“But I always just got on with it, that’s what we did.”