A “delightful, positive and beautiful” centenarian celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by her friends and family in Denham last week.

Althea Martin marked her 100th birthday on Friday, January 13, at White Plains Care Home in Denham, where she lives.

Originally from Devonshire, Althea lived a “charmed” life, with summer holidays spent cruising around the Greek islands and the Mediterranean, and winter holidays skiing in the Swiss Alps, with her two brothers, Arthur and Douglas.

Staff at the care home told the Bucks Free Press Althea was a “great sportswoman” and “particularly good” at tennis.

She met her future husband, Alec Martin, from New Zealand, during World War Two when he was in the Fleet Air Army, and married him in 1944.

The couple moved back to New Zealand after the war, where they lived for 12 years, returning to England to start a business building fishing boats and cabin cruisers in Burnham-on-Sea.

He died in 1999 and Mrs Martin moved house a few times, coming to live at White Plains six years ago.

She did not have children, with Roseann Avey Jones, lifestyle and activities facilitator at the care home, saying she was happy to look after her nieces and nephews who spent holidays with her.

Ms Jones said: “She was extremely kind and generous to them, and always great fun.”

She said Mrs Martin’s “first passion” was and still is shopping, adding she spent “many hours” in Harrods, Liberty and Fortnum & Mason. She also enjoyed buying and selling antiques.

Speaking about turning 100, Mrs Martin, who is the first in her family to have reached the milestone, said she felt “wonderful”, with staff saying she took “great delight” in showing her birthday card from the Queen to her loved ones.

Ms Jones added: “[She] didn’t expect all the fuss as we arranged a party [on Friday] and she had surprise visitors from America.

“We are truly privileged to have Althea with us as she is a delightful, positive and beautiful person.”