100 years of Grace

Grace's mother lived in a house without electricity and never travelled further than London to Hastings on the train.

But Grace has a different story - she became a teacher, and then a headmistress who on retirement realised her dream of travelling around the world. She spent half her "golden handshake" on air travel, train tickets and accommodation and visited far-off continents, all on 150 for six months.

Grace is a resident at Hazlemere in Warwick Road where on Saturday she received bouquets and 50 cards from friends and family.

A party was held in the afternoon when Grace cut her cake in front of 30 residents, staff and visitors.

She then had a day to recover before enjoying a lunch party at Powdermills hotel in Battle with 24 guests - Grace made a speech to mark the occasion.

"It was all such fun," she told the Observer this week.

"I have got lots of interests - that is what keeps me going. That is why I have lived to be 100 - I have always been interested in music as far as I can remember, I have always enjoyed food, not just eating, but also preparing food and cooking, and I have been interested in needlework. I have so many friends, and always have had, all my life. I have been a regular attender at St Peter's church since I came to Bexhill, and I can't get there now but the church comes to me.

"The main thing for me is this has been a century in which so much has happened. My mother never had electricity in her house, she never travelled anywhere but all these things have happened since then in my lifetime."

Grace was born in central London in 1908. She attended grammar school in Southwark and became a regular visitor to the Old Vic theatre nearby where she watched famous actors of the day performing Shakespeare, becoming well versed herself in the work.

In 1927 she attended teacher training and went to work in Dagenham where her first job was to look after 57 8/9 year olds. She didn't think she would continue after the first term but in fact went on to a long career as a teacher and then headmistress of John Perry junior school in Dagenham until she retired 16 years later at age 60.

Among the many surprises over the weekend's festivities was a large packet from her old school with letters from the current head teacher and pupils who are there now, writing to tell her how they appreciate their time.

On retirement she travelled to Canada, the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa before coming home having clocked up some 32,367 miles.

She went home to Brentwood but then moved to Bexhill when she married Geoffrey Noble in 1977. Her husband died soon after but she continued to live in De La Warr Road and was for many years a member of the Vestry Sewing Guild attached to St Peter's church. She has two step-daughters.

Hazelmere owner Corinne Gadsden commented: "She is a phenomenal lady and she has done an amazing number of things.

"She is mentally very alert and has an extraordinary memory - she is a lovely person."