An East Ender who turns 100 today says she doesn’t want to live too much longer, adding: “I think 103 would be long enough.”

Maud Higgins was born and raised in London’s East End and lived there until Christmas 2016.

Unfortunately, her flat flooded while she was staying in Eastchurch with her son, Peter, for the holidays, so she now lives on the Island with Peter and his wife, Irene.

She has always been a keen painter and reader but her eyesight has deteriorated in recent years and she’s had to hang up her palette.

Maud was married to Bill Higgins, who was known in the East End as a boxer. When they moved to Brighton in their early marriage to help Mrs Higgins’ mother run a shop, he once cycled from Brighton to London to compete in two bouts, then cycled home again.

They met while hop-picking, though Maud says everyone met hop-picking in those days. They were married in 1937 when Maud was 20.

Maud also jokes to friends and family that he was the only one left, as he had scared two rather good-looking men that she used to go ballroom dancing with away by “having a word”. Bill died in 1985, aged 71.

Nowadays, Maud lives a quiet life and enjoys watching television. The house won’t be quiet today however, when friends and family descend on their Eastchurch Road home for the party of the century.

Irene Higgins, her daughter-in-law, added: “Maud can’t wait for the party. She’s been really looking forward to it. We hope the Queen’s card arrives in time!”