Florine Keim, who now lives at Field House nursing home in St Brelade, was joined by 30 friends and family for afternoon tea. Taking part in the celebrations were some of Mrs Keim’s relatives who flew in from France to mark the occasion, together with the Chief of Staff at Government House, ADC Charles Woodrow. Mr Woodrow said that the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgeway, was sorry that he could not be there as he was in the Minquiers inspecting the Queen’s properties. Mr Woodrow read out birthday greetings from the Queen, which were translated in French for Mrs Keim, who replied with a simple ‘Merci’. Mr Woodrow said: ‘When we do these birthday celebrations we rarely have a man reach 100 – it’s nearly always a woman. In 16 years, I have only ever seen five men reach 100. I have to ask, why this is? I think it’s down to all the ladies’ coffee mornings and lying on the beach while we men slave away!’
