For she's a jolly good centenarian

FORMER dairy farmer Felicity Crump celebrated her 100th birthday this week and family and friends flew in from across the world for a party.

Felicity, who has always taken a very active role in the island community, celebrated at her former home, Fort Corblets.

Owners Diana and Stephen Mellor had lent her the use of it so that 65 friends and family members, who came from as far as Barbados and Rhode Island, USA, could sit down to a buffet lunch catered for by Braye Chippy, which included Alderney beef and pork.

Six great grandchildren attended and many toasts were raised, including one by her son Peter, which included many amusing family anecdotes.

States President Stuart Trought sent her a formal letter wishing her a happy birthday on behalf of the people of Alderney.

Long-time friend David Thornborrow said: 'Everyone had a lovely time; it was a very happy do.'

He added that he thought a zest for life and an active life, physically and mentally, was probably the secret behind Felicity's longevity and sparkle.

Her father, Francis Impney, fell in love with Alderney on a visit in around 1930. He rented Fort Corblets from the War Department until the beginning of World War Two, then afterwards he bought it from the States and his family would summer there every year, Felicity included.

In 1978 she retired to Alderney and quickly became caught up in island life, volunteering with the music society, the art club, the Wildlife Trust and the Alderney Society.

Felicity also wrote a book called The Alderney Cow, which is still on sale at the museum, and became a shareholder of The Journal.

But what gift do you get for a woman who has lived such a fascinating life? An iPad, of course.