A former milliner and dancing queen celebrated her 106th birthday with friends and family. 

Hannah Cripps was surrounded by loved ones at Jewish Care’s Rubens House in Finchley to mark her special birthday.

Mrs Cripps said: “If it were my last wish it would be perfect. It was a lovely surprise. Everyone made me feel so happy, I was thrilled. I had a wonderful time and the cake was so special.”

The great-grandmother was born in 1908 and left school at the age of 14 to become a milliner, but was also a keen ballroom dancer, and this is how she met her husband Monty.

The pair settled in Finchley where they raised their son and Mrs Cripps went on to work in a local patisserie.

Mrs Cripps received a birthday card from the Queen for her birthday presented by the former Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Melvin Cohen, and she later returned the favour by presenting the Mayor with a birthday card for his 65th birthday for the following day.

Joining the celebration were old friends and neighbours, and a team from Squires, a local estate agent, who helped decorate the room and served tea and cake donated by Daniels bakery.

Social care coordinator, Christina Brago Nimako, said: “We are all very excited as Hannah is our first resident to reach 106. It is been such a privilege to know her and spend time with her and the party was a truly special occasion for a remarkable woman.”