PROUD Essex girl Lilian Smith enjoyed a visit from some feathered friends as she celebrated her 100th birthday.

Celebrations for Lily’s big day at Grassington House in Dorchester coincided with a visit from Sharandys birds of prey.

Lily described the birds as ‘lovely’ and enjoyed the visit as part of her birthday celebrations.

She said: “It’s very interesting.”

Lily was born in Chingford, Essex and is proud to be known as an Essex girl.

She grew up with brother Bill and played with his friends and was always known as a bit of a tom boy.

Lily liked to keep active and belonged to a gymnastic club in her teens before later joining a cycling club.

It was at the cycling club that she met Bill, whom she married in 1939 and their son Raymond was born a year later.

After the Second World War the couple joined a motorcycle club and have many happy memories of their activities.

They moved to the Sussex countryside where they also enjoyed walks, bowls and darts.

Bill passed away in 1997 and Lily moved to Dorset in 2004 to be cared for by her family.

Lily, who has always tried to keep as active as possible, moved into Grassington House last year at the age of 99.

Another of her passions is the music of Engelbert Humperdinck.