ELSIE Reynolds had a number of candles to blow out at her latest birthday part as she turned 102.

Mrs Reynolds, who has been a resident at Brambles Care Home in Amblecote for the past year, spent her 102nd birthday enjoying a party with her family and friends.

Dee Whitehouse, care manager, said: “Elsie can do everything for herself. You’d think she was about 70.

“She is an avid reader; she loves reading and puts her good health down to regular glasses of vodka and gin!

“The home was over-run with visitors on Tuesday as Elsie had a lot of family members come to celebrate here with her.

“Staff and residents joined in with a small party in her room where she received a lot of cards and a lovely cake was made.

“Elsie’s a wonderful person and it was great that we all got to celebrate her special day together.”

Originally from Quarry Bank, Elsie was born on April 21, 1913. She had nine siblings where she was the eldest of three sisters.

Elsie was a local factory worker before she became a cook and a draper once she married her late husband Wilfrid on Boxing Day 1935.

The couple’s son Allan was born 69 years ago when Elsie gave up her full time job to work various part-time jobs before taking early retirement where she spent her time enjoying gardening and cooking.

Allan said: “She is a very kind mother and woman with a dry sense of humour.

“Many of my aunts and uncles lived into their late 80s and early 90s but my mother out-lived all of them and is the last one of her siblings left now.

“She loves her vodka and I’m sure that, together with her strong genetics, is what keeps her going.”