A “feisty” former school cook from Chinnor celebrated her 105th birthday alongside family and friends last week.

A party was held for Hilda Branscombe on Friday afternoon at the Hempton Field Care Home where she lives on Lower Icknield Way.

The event was attended by her daughter-in-law Jean Branscombe, as well as her granddaughter, great-granddaughter and various residents of the home.

Her daughter-in-law Jean said: “It’s an amazing achievement to get to the age of 105. She didn’t even expect to reach 100.

“She may be tiny – she’s not even five foot - but she’s a feisty old lady.

“She received a card from the queen, which said ‘Congratulations on your achievement of 105. Best wishes, Elizabeth R’. She’ll be proud of that because she loves the royals.”

Hilda was born in Shepherd's Bush on February 5 1911, one of seven children.

Mrs Branscombe explains how her mother-in-law grew up in a “hard-up” family during the First World War before working in a sweet factory for a short time and then became a school cook.

Hilda was married for over 50 years and gave birth to her only child (her son) in 1939 who sadly passed away last year.

She currently has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren – named Tom (aged ten) and Elizabeth (eight).

Despite having five sisters and one brother, Hilda is now the only surviving sibling and moved to Thame in 2005 after her husband’s death in 1986 before moving into the Chinnor nursing home in 2013.

Hilda, described by Mrs Branscombe as an “avid” sportsperson, was able to combine her love of sport with her job when she did catering for the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

The Chinnor resident is also a loyal Manchester United fan and wore one of the team’s replica shirts – which her great-nephew had bought her for her 100th birthday – during last week’s party.

Mrs Branscombe says Hilda started supporting the Red Devils after the Munich air disaster in February 1958 when eleven of the club’s players and staff lost their lives when their plane crashed on take-off.

The day before Hilda was born – February 4 1911 – her beloved Manchester United ran out 2-1 winners over Aston Villa in the FA Cup in front of a season-record of 65,101.

Mrs Branscombe added: “She was also a great baker and made my three-tiered wedding cake in 1963.

“She said she used about 13 pounds of icing on it – it was very good.

“In 1962 she started to go on regular holidays to Spain. She even wore a bikini when she was in her sixties which no many women would do.”