YOU can never be too old for a birthday party and a woman who turned 100 years old on Saturday was not going to miss out on a bash to remember. Centenarian Ena Wilson celebrated reaching the landmark age with her family and friends from the Barnetson Cour

YOU can never be too old for a birthday party and a woman who turned 100 years old on Saturday was not going to miss out on a bash to remember.

Centenarian Ena Wilson celebrated reaching the landmark age with her family and friends from the Barnetson Court residential home, in Dunmow.

Daughter-in-law Lesley Wilson said: "She had a wonderful time; everyone that came to the party really enjoyed it.

"She had lots of presents. People ask me 'what can you buy a woman for her 100th birthday?' The answer is the same as you would buy for any other woman - flowers and chocolates.

"In the morning her room looked like a flower shop!"

Particularly moving for Mrs Wilson was receiving her letter from the Queen which arrived on the day.

"It was a lovely letter that wished her a very happy birthday," said Mrs Wilson. "It brought tears to her eyes."

A musician entertained guests with songs from the war time era and the building was decorated with balloons and banners.

Ena is not the oldest person at Barnetson Court in Braintree Road - another woman, Mary Hicks, is 102 - but she is the first person to celebrate her centenary at the home.

The secret to a long life seems to be a healthy lifestyle as Mrs Wilson does not drink or smoke, her grandchildren and great grandchildren also help to keep her young at heart.

Son Paul Wilson from Felsted was her only child and was born in 1943, one year before her husband died on active service with the RAF. Paul and Lesley's children Kerry and John also attended the celebration.

Great grandchildren nine-year-old Jacob and Chloe, six, made up the fourth generation of the family to wish Ena a happy birthday.

"The great grandchildren had a really good time," said Mrs Wilson. "And I think Ena was pleased to have them help unwrapping all of her presents."

Although she did not have a hundred candles on her cake the family decided it would be safer to give her a two-tiered cake with a bow on the top.

Ena was born in 1907 in Great Glemham, Suffolk. When she left home she entered service with a general practitioner in Romford where she met and married Herbert Wilson in 1936.

After the death of her husband in 1944 she never remarried. She moved into Barnetson Court two years ago.