Ref. 28094-32BETWEEN them, these three women have lived for three hundred years.

Annie New, Mary Collingborn and Dorothy Roberts all reached 100 years of age this year.

When the youngest, Annie, celebrated her birthday last week, the Grove Hill Residential Home in Highworth was able to celebrate its first ever hat-trick of centenarians.

The ladies have seen world wars come and go, witnessed the birth of the car, the microchip and mass communications and lived through a myriad of fashions and changing attitudes.

Senior carer Irene Ockwell said the trio are a fountain of fascinating information.

She said: "When they are feeling okay you can have some fascinating conversations about all the many things they have lived through and experienced.

"The last time we had a 100-year-old was about nine years ago, and then suddenly we get three in one year."

In her younger days, Annie ran a shop in Hannington, while Mary the only one who needs a wheelchair was a farmer.

Mary, who lived at Fennell Farm near Highworth, used to deliver milk fresh from the churn.

Dorothy, who was born in Crewe, can still recall memories from her childhood.

She said: "I can remember my father carrying me down the stairs."

Dorothy's memories of her father are precious because he died young. His death was given extra poignancy because he passed away on Armistice Day, when the country was still celebrating the end of the First World War.

Dorothy said: "My father was too old to be a soldier, so he did fire watch.

"He died from a bad heart, but he was given a military funeral, and I remember that well."

Irene revealed that Dorothy enjoys the kind of music not usually appreciated by people of so many years.

She said: "Dorothy really loves the Beatles."

All three residents treasure their birthday cards from the Queen.

Dorothy said: "Oh yes, I'm very proud of it, it was wonderful to receive."

Tamash Lal