Elizabeth Carpenter, Oxfordshire’s oldest resident, celebrates her 107th birthday today.

She will enjoy a special party with family and friends at the Crown Nursing Home, in Harwell.

Mrs Carpenter, known as Queenie, was born Elizabeth Allen in 1901 at the White Hart pub, in Didcot, which was run by her parents.

Her grand-daughter, Dr Emma Henderson, said: “She puts her longevity down to not drinking, not smoking, and living a healthy outdoor life.”

Care home manager May Sancio said: “We will be having a party with her and hope she enjoys it. We are very proud of her.”

Mrs Carpenter is now the county’s oldest resident after 107-year-old Myra Dowding died in October.

Mrs Carpenter, one of three sisters, worked in a tobacconist’s before she married civil servant Frederick Carpenter in the 1920s.

They lived in Glyn Avenue, Didcot, and had one daughter, Dorothy.

Mr Carpenter died in the late 1950s and Mrs Carpenter then went on to become a full-time carer for her sister, Dolly.

Mrs Carpenter has lived through the Governments of 21 Prime Ministers.

She was 17 before women over 30 got the vote and 27 before there was full female suffrage and she could vote herself.