Doris Coe put English cricketers to shame by reaching her century with ease

A Sudbury resident has put English cricketers to shame by reaching her century with ease.

Doris Coe, 100, of Tulsi House care home in Church Gardens, marked the occasion with friends and family who helped her read a congratulatory telegram from the Queen.

Doris, who grew up and lived most of her life in Kilburn, got her first job aged just 14 at the McVities factory in Harlesden where she was paid just 10 shillings (50p) a week.

She moved to an office job later on where she remained until she retired at the age of 78 after marrying her husband late George and having two sons – Raymond and Alan.

Doris said: “I’ve always been active both as a child and an adult. I know how important it is to keep my body moving and I would never take the bus.

“I prefer to walk from place to place and cover long distances when I can. That’s my secret to staying young.”

Having moved to the home, run by Willow Housing and Care, in 2003 Doris – who now has five grandchildren – did not hold out much hope for the telegram from the Queen to arrive.

She said: “I wasn’t sure if people still got telegrams for their 100th birthdays so I wasn’t holding out too much hope, but I’m over the moon to have received one.”