Rustington's Ethel, 100, '˜overwhelmed' with birthday bash

Ethel Keast, a resident of the Fairlight Nursing Home, in Worthing Road, has celebrated reaching the triple-digit milestone with family and friends.

Ethel, who has lived at the home for three years, is described by staff as ‘quick-witted, cheeky and a joy to be around’.

Fairlight owner, Siobhan Wootton, said: “Ethel is so polite to everyone but she is also very, very witty.

“She will come back with some absolute corkers that will have us all in stitches. She is very cheeky and ever so funny.

“She is quite a character here at Fairlight.”

Ethel was born on June 11, 1913, in Church Lauford near Rugby, Warwickshire. Growing up, she was the only daughter, having three brothers, Reginald, Harry and Eric.

She spent her childhood in Warwickshire until 1923, when she moved to south-west London and joined the Women’s Land Army in 1940.

Soon afterwards, Ethel met her husband Ren and they were married in 1943 at St Mark’s Church, Kennington. The couple never had any children but were devoted to one another.

In later life, Ethel worked at Dorchester Farms until 1960, before moving to Findon.

She lived on her own for some time in the village, until she moved into to Fairlight in 2010.

“She loves it here,” added Siobhan. “She is a very capable woman and loves to take part in arts and crafts sessions and our bingo competitions.”

Ethel, who received a card from the Queen congratulating her on her special day, celebrated her birthday by tucking into a cake, opening her presents and chatting with her nephew, who came to visit her for the day.

Siobhan said: “Ethel had a brilliant time at her birthday.

“She was very tired by the end of all the celebrations and just couldn’t stop thanking everyone.

“She was overwhelmed by it all, I think. She was completely taken aback by it, and she kept thanking all the staff and her friends.

“But that’s Ethel through-and-through. She is always so kind-natured and polite and thinks about others.”