A Barkingside woman celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday with family and friends in Clayhall. Elsie Livermore reached the milestone at the Birchwood care home in Clayhall Avenue and was surrounded by cards and flowers from staff and well-wishers.
The centenarian was born in Barkingside and lived there for most of her life, apart from a brief stay in Southend with her sweetheart George, who she married in 1935.
They spent many happy years together until his death in 1980.
Elsie, nee Brown, worked for United Dairies, and then, until her retirement, as a cleaner at Gants Hill Library in Cranbrook Road.
Though Elsie and George had no children, she has three nephews, Peter Brown, 77, Robert Brown, 74, and Derek Brown, 82, who all joined her for her party.
Great nephews John Brown and Mark Brown and great niece Anne McCullagh raised their glasses to Elsie.
She also welcomed great-great-niece Harriet Brown, two, and great-great-nephew Thomas Brown, nine, on the day.
Mark said: “Elsie has always had a great sense of humour and has always been ready to help people whatever their needs.”
She has lived at the care home for four years.
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