Croydon's Ellen celebrates her 110th birthday (From Your Local Guardian)

Croydon's Ellen celebrates her 110th birthday

7:10am Tuesday 5th January 2010 in

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Kirsty Whalley A woman who was born in Croydon in 1900 celebrated her 110th birthday on January 1 in a Staines Care Home.

Ellen Watson, who was born during the reign of Queen Victoria, says her long life is down to having a good sense of humour.

She said: “I’ve never smoked and rarely drunk alcohol apart from a sherry at Christmas and birthdays. I’ve always eaten healthy food but the most important thing is laughter and having a good sense of humour.”

The sprightly centenarian has always been fit and as a young pupil she regularly beat other competitors in the inter-school running championships at Crystal Palace.

She lived in Croydon through two World Wars, surviving the blitz. One of her most vivid memories as a teenager was seeing a Zeppelin fly over her home during the First World War.

Mrs Watson, who has outlived five monarchs, vividly remembers the roaring blaze which destroyed the Crystal Palace exhibition hall in 1936.

Crystal Palace was a marvel of its age when it opened in 1854. However, after 82 years of luring millions of people to its weird and wonderful concerts and exhibitions, a devastating fire destroyed the site.

The blaze, which started shortly before 7pm, was the biggest London had seen since the 1666 Great Fire and it was visible from the English Channel.

She left Croydon in 1959, the same year the country’s first international airport, based in Croydon, closed down.

Mrs Watson moved to Staines with her second husband Samuel and daughter Audrey and her husband.

Mr Watson died days after the couple celebrated their golden anniversary in 1974.

The great-grandmother celebrated her milestone at Anchor Homes' Meadowside in Staines surrounded by friends and family.

Mrs Watson has two grandchildren, three great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. In June 2010 another great-great grandchild and a great-great-great grandchild are due.