A THORNBURY woman has celebrated her 104th birthday with her family this week, only days after overcoming a life threatening illness.

Vera Jones, who lives in the Beech House care home in Thornbury, was born in Bishopston, Bristol in 1911.

During World War II, she built spare parts for planes at Bristol Aeroplane Company in Filton.

She also had quite a taste for travelling, having been all over the world, appearing on a billboard poster in Dubai and even visiting Australia at the very young age of 80.

“I don’t look bad for my age do I?” joked Vera who spent the day on Monday with her family, including her two sons, as well as her four-month-old great-great granddaughter Alice.

A week before the party however, she had been bed ridden, seriously ill with a chest infection which that her family feared would kill her.

“It is amazing how different she looks now to this time last week,” said her younger son Rodney.

“We thought that would be it, but her batteries have still got some power in them yet.

“She has only been at Beech House for the past three years, before that she lived on her own without need for any additional help. She has always been very competent.”

To celebrate the day, Vera was joined by the other residents of the care home for an entertainment show before opening presents with her family.

“You can see from how she was dancing along to the music in her chair just how switched on she still is,” said eldest son Michael.

“She is still very active and goes on all the trips with the care home.

“It is quite amazing to see how sprightly she is, she is often beating me out of the chair!”