CENTENARIAN Rose Saunders is more surprised than anyone that her life has turned out to be so extraordinary.

Rose, who was born 102 years ago today, says she has always led a quiet life, and that her birthday is easily the most amazing thing she has achieved.

"It's a big surprise to me, because I never thought I would reach 100, let alone two more years on top of it," says Rose, of Fairhaven in Bath Road.

"Apart from that, I've never done anything special."

Rose, who never married or had children, led an industrious working life, spending 43 years in accountancy at the Royal London Insurance firm in the City of London.

The firm is among many well-wishers whose Christmas cards adorn her room at Fairhaven, and in spite of her advanced age, the birthday girl will not be short of visitors this year.

A South African-based nephew has already called in to Swindon just to see her, and Rose is also expecting a birthday visit from some nieces.

Last year, her Wroughton-based sister-in-law Joan cooked her a birthday cake, and other relations living in places such as the Lake District and the East Coast of England have also sent cards.

Rose's 100th birthday card from the Queen also occupies pride of place on her bedside table but she will have to wait until she reaches the age of 105 for another card from Her Majesty.

Rose was actually christened Alice, but prefers to use her middle name perhaps because her father once explained how she was "like a little rose" as a child.

She spent most of her life in London, and loved visiting its theatres and museums, and only moved to Swindon in 1989 to be near her late brother, John, and his wife.

In spite of suffering a stroke that left one side of her body paralysed in 1993, Rose is still remarkably fit-looking and alert, and loves to talk about her other passion, travel.

Although she regrets not being able to see more of Swindon because of her impaired mobility, Rose was an enthusiastic traveller in her youth.

She visited much of the UK, Belgium, France, and Switzerland, and vividly recalls a visit to Germany a year before World War Two broke out.

"I will always remember these young fellows they were just boys really all dressed up in proper uniforms, marching and doing exercises," she says.

"At the time, I wasn't thinking about it, but I realised afterwards that they were preparing for war."