A Roehampton dinner lady celebrated her 93rd birthday last week.

Former head cook, Mabel Isaac joined her friends at the Gwyneth Morgan Day Centre, in Wandsworth, to celebrate the special event and reminisce on her life.

Born in the Hackney area in 1914, she started work at The Fancy Box Company at the age of just 14.

She worked there until the 1960s, spending her time creating exquisite bespoke handmade boxes.

In 1970, she had a change of direction and became head cook at Willington Preparatory School, which spent 105 years in Putney before moving to Worcester Road in Wimbledon in 1990.

Mrs Isaac, who married her husband George in 1939, worked at the school until her retirement in 1986. The couple lived in the same Roehampton house since 1953.

Their son Ted said: "In 1989 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and pride of place in my mum's living room is a framed photograph and congratulations card from the Queen.

"Sadly my father died in early 2006. But despite being left all alone after such a long period of companionship she has resolved to look after herself, live an independent life and try to overcome the extensive disability she has suffered since having a stroke seven years ago."