Hard work and respect for others are the life-affirming values of Julia Gilbert, who celebrated her 107th birthday with a party at Jewish Care's Rubens home in Gants Hill, where she has lived since 2012.
Family and civic leaders joined the birthday bash for Mrs Gilbert, a former volunteer for the charity, who received cards from the Queen, David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Helping staff to organise the party was one of her nine grandchildren, Jacqueline Rogers, who said: "It was a fantastic day with family and friends.
"The staff at the home are brilliant and it's been really important for Julia to be in the community where she's lived, and is well known, for so many years."
