Windsor care home resident Winnifred Swallow has shared her secret for living a long and happy life on her 102nd birthday.

The birthday celebration took place at Care UK’s Mountbatten Grange on Helston Lane.

To mark the occasion, Win revealed her secret was to ‘keep smiling’ and ‘love everyone’.

ALSO READ: The Queen's most memorable Christmas Day speeches

Win received many cards and gifts from loved ones. The home’s head chef also prepared a special birthday cake, which was enjoyed along with a glass of bubbly to mark the occasion.

Debbie Winwood, home manager at Mountbatten Grange, said: “Win is a well-loved resident and it was fantastic to help her celebrate this incredible milestone with her friends here at the care home.

“We always like to celebrate important milestones – and Win’s 102nd birthday was no exception. It was lovely to raise a glass to Win on her special day.”

ALSO READ: How Christmas celebrations have changed for the royal family

Win was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire and followed in her mother’s footsteps, qualifying as a teacher at the outbreak of World War II. She was posted to a school in the East End of London, and on her first day arrived to find they were being evacuated to West Sussex.

Win knew her husband John Swallow from childhood. They married in June 1942 and had two children together, Christina and Nicholas.

She taught as an infant school headmistress in Teddington, Middlesex, until retirement. Many Teddington residents learned to read and write under her patient teaching. She has a strong artistic streak, enjoying painting and latterly pottery, and kept her local library busy supplying her with books as she was a voracious reader.

Win enjoyed being active in her younger years, riding her bike and making all of her own clothes. Moving into Mountbatten Grange in June 2019, Win enjoys spending time looking at photographs and sharing her experiences and memories with her friends at the home.