They may have a combined age of 1,980 but that didn’t stop a group of 90-year-olds from celebrating the Queen’s birthday.

Meopham parish council embarked on a project to get people who are 90 and over, or turning 90 this year, together for a party on Thursday.

Over the past three months Jo McTavish and a team from the parish went to local community groups, churches, sheltered housing, and used flyers around the village to track down those with nine decades of life experience – and invite them out for tea.

At the grand age of 97 Doris Rutherford was the oldest guest at Meopham Village Hall in Wrotham Road.

The mother-of-five, grandmother to 14 and great-grandmother to 18 said: “I’ve got a few great-grandchildren around the same age as Prince George, and my mother was always very fond of the royals – we used to have pictures of them in the house.

“I was very pleased to be invited along to this, and I think the Queen is absolutely marvellous for her age.

“She must get tired; she has to walk and stand for such long periods of time but then, I suppose she doesn’t have all the washing up to do.”

The Meopham Historical Society set up an exhibition with photos from events in the village over the past 90 years. There were also images from a visit by the Queen in 1956, when she got off the train at the village’s station for a short walk-about.

Pearl Norman is closest in age to Her Majesty, and turns 90 on Saturday, April 30. She married Peter Norman and the pair were together for 62 years before he passed away. They had two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She said: “It’s great to be the age we are, providing that you’re being well looked after.

“I’m very lucky, we moved to Norwood Lane in Meopham in 1982 to accommodate my mother, and sold the house to our son. We then left and had a holiday in Dover which lasted 30 years. I came back to Meopham in 2012 after Peter died, and now I’m in the granny annexe we had for my mother.

“I’m very content.”

The former Dartford teacher added: “I’ve always felt quite an affinity with the Queen.

“I remember growing up and being aware that I was the same age as the princess.”

Enid Lander is known in the village for all her awards. Despite being 92, she still wins flower, cake and gardening competitions. In the latest spring show for the Meopham Garden Association she picked up four first places, four seconds and two thirds.

She has lived in the area all her life, having moved from Gravesend to the village and is also part of the St John’s Church choir.

“I’ve had a lovely time today, it’s been a wonderful celebration.

“I saw the Queen once, during a visit to Scotland. I certainly don’t know how she does it, still working so much, all that paperwork.

“She’s marvellous.”

The Meopham Afternoon Flower Arrangers created all the table decorations and the Mayor of Gravesham Mick Wenban also attended.