A Norfolk woman had a simple answer when asked what had kept her going for 107 years... the Lord.
Kathleen Bidewell, who was born a few months after the US joined the First World War - attributed her long life to her firm faith.
She celebrated her 107th birthday this week at the Quebec Hall Christian Retirement Home in Dereham.
She is one of the oldest people in the UK as one of fewer than 200 supercentenarians older than 107.
And she is just nine years younger than the world's oldest person - Tomiko Itooka from Japan - and five years younger than the oldest man, John Tinniswood from Liverpool.
To mark the milestone, the King sent Miss Bidewell a card to congratulate her on the momentous occasion.
A spokesman from the care home said: "There were also plenty of staff members delighted to gather round Miss Bidewell’s bed at the home to share a celebratory cake with the birthday girl."
Miss Bidewell has lived at Quebec Hall for the last 11 years and holds the title of being the oldest person ever to reside at the home in its 60-year history.
She has lived through two world wars and two global pandemics, among other historic events, since her birth in 1917.
She grew up in the Cambridge and Onley Street area of Norwich and apart from four years as a nurse in London, she lived in Norwich for most of her life.
She has a passion about writing and is a keen poet.
The spokesman said: "The two most recent anthologies of her poems were published during her decade at Quebec Hall, some drawn with humour and candour from experiences during her long life, and others reflecting on her faith and beliefs."
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