A fiery personality and determination is what’s helped a great-grandmother reach her 105th birthday.

Annie Cannon, who is known as Lily, celebrated her big day with a party at care home Pembroke House in Oxford Road, Gillingham, with her family and friends.

Her son Colin Cannon said: “She had a lovely party put on by the staff.

“They think the world of her and had made bunting to decorate the room.

“Some of the other residents came along and I gave some of the old boys a beer. My wife and sister-in-law made cakes for everyone.”

“It was a lovely day and she really enjoyed it.”

Lily moved from Plymouth to Medway when she was just 16. Her father worked in the dockyard police and got transferred to Chatham.

It is where she met her husband, Arthur, who she married in 1936 before he joined the war effort in 1939. He was in the navy.

Lily worked in the dockyard, in the ropery and then the canteen. She finished her working life as a cleaner in the naval barracks when she was in her early 60s.

They had two sons. Arthur, who died in 2014, was a paramedic for 40 years. He was married to Dot.

Colin, 74, is a retired curtain and blind fitter who lives in Darland Avenue, Gillingham, with his wife Glennis.

He said: “She’s never smoked, never drank alcohol but she’s very strong spirited and determined and I think that’s what has kept her going.

“She won’t do anything she doesn’t want to do.

“She’s not on any tablets or medication and the doctor said she’s got the heart and blood pressure of a 40-year-old.

“One of the grandchildren wrote online the other day saying she can be sweet but she can be very naughty too. That’s a good way to explain her.

“She loves her bingo and would play at St Luke’s Church once a week but now she likes watching television at the home.

“Mum still has her hair and nails done every week and has always liked putting her lipstick on.”

“She’s really well looked after there. I can sleep easy at night knowing she’s in there.”

Lily has four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.