A CIRENCESTER woman has put her long life down down to having a good family and a strong faith.

Joan Leeson celebrated her 102nd birthday on Wednesday with friends and family at Paternoster House.

Joan, who has been a resident at The Orders of St John Care Trust home for four years, was born in Worcester and moved to Stratton when she was three, growing up in the family home on Cheltenham Road.

She started working at Woolworths in Cirencester when she was 16 years old, and worked there for 44 years altogether, including as store manager for many years.

During the war, Joan worked at the GWR railway office in Cirencester and she was also actively involved with St Peter’s Church in Stratton, where her son David was a priest.

Joan, who was treated to a special birthday breakfast and an afternoon tea party at Paternoster House, said having a good family and a strong faith had been key to her long life.

Her best advice to others was: “Just take life as it comes and be happy doing whatever you feel you can do.”

Home Manager Hannah Forsyth said: “Joan is a truly wonderful lady, incredibly determined and a real character who has some fantastic memories of growing up and working in Cirencester.

“It was a real pleasure to be able to make such a fuss of her on her special day.”