A former English professor celebrated her milestone 102nd birthday yesterday.

Ida Wagstaff, now of Romney Marsh, was born in Chili, South America, on March 31, 1918 - the same year the First World War ended.

It was also the same year comedian Spike Milligan and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela were born, and the same year the Spanish Flu pandemic broke out.

Her English father had met her Chilean mother while he was working at a school in the country, and together the couple had three sons and three daughters, with Ida being the fourth oldest.

But when Ida was five years old, she moved to England with her father, leaving the rest of the family in Chili.

She went onto study at Oxford University and then became a professor of English.

Ida married twice, with both husbands now having passed away, but had no children.

She moved to Folkestone to retire and lived there for many years until 2015, when she was diagnosed with dementia.

She now lives at Madeira Lodge Care Home, in Littlestone on the Marsh.

Sarah Pennington, home manager, said: "Ida has no relatives in England so the staff at Madeira Lodge are her family.

"She's still very active and mobile. She enjoys colouring and arts and crafts, and likes to get involved in activities.

"Ida enjoys reading the paper and a game of bingo."

Ms Pennington said Ida has joked 'having no children' was the secret to a long life.

She celebrated her impressive birthday with a party at the home with staff yesterday.

Ms Pennington added: "She was treated like a queen all day. We had music and activities and tea and cake."

The oldest ever Briton was Charlotte Hughes, who died in 1993 at the age of 115 years.

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