Tea, biscuits and a card from the Queen can only mean one thing.

Alice White, of West Street, Gravesend, is getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday on Tuesday, July 19 with all her friends at the Northfleet Women’s Institute.

The soon to be centenarian grew up in Windmill Street and has lived in the town ever since.

Alice is a founding member of the WI and was surprised by the ladies during their monthly meeting with a big bouquet and a card signed by all.

Enjoying a cup of tea and some jam- filled biscuits, she enjoyed a special talk from a Kentish wedding photographer and laughed at anecdotes about wedding dress malfunctions and rainy garden shoots.

The mother-of-two has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who are busy organising a birthday get-together but Alice has no idea what they are planning.

She said: “I’ve got to wait until the day; all I know is that my daughter is sorting it all out.

“It was a lovely surprise to receive flowers from the WI as it isn’t my birthday yet, but by the time of the next meeting, the day would have passed.”

Lesley-Anne Farrell, 41, president of the Northfleet Women’s Institute said: “We are so proud of Alice. I don’t think there are many institutions that can say they have a 100-year-old member."

“She’s part of the family", she added.

Lesley’s mother, Brenda Roberts, 81, of Lennox Road, Gravesend, first met Alice when they were both in Gravesend hospital giving birth to their first born children. They have been the best of friends ever since with Lesley and her siblings knowing Alice as Nanna White.

Alice does not quite know whether the Queen will be in touch on her special day, but she is looking forward to receiving lots of birthday cards from her family who are scattered across Scotland, Portsmouth and Kent.