Not many people can say they have received a birthday card from the Queen and even fewer can say they have more than one.

Winifred Kemp got a personal message from Her Majesty when she turned 105 to add to the one she collected for turning 100.

She was born in Poplar, East London, in 1912 as the 10th of 11 children.

Her parents died when she was five and the family split up – boys to one orphanage and girls to another.

She left the orphanage at the age of 14 and moved in with her eldest sister Victoria in Romford. She went on to become a trainee milliner.

She met husband Ernest in the Army during the Second World War and they married on April 10, 1943. They lived in Hawkhurst and had two daughters, Linda and Christine.

Ernest worked for Seeboard and when the job brought him to Sheppey in 1955, Winifred came too with their daughters.

The family moved to Barton Hill Drive, Minster, and she still lives in the same house.

Ernest died in 1971, aged 53.

"Her philosophy is that there's always somebody out there who's worse off than you are" - Christine Webb

Winifred – who also trained as a book keeper – worked making collars at Jacobs, the shirt factory that used to be in Sheerness. She also did sewing at home.

Now, she goes to Age UK Sheppey in Sheerness twice a week. This is where a celebration was held on Friday to mark her birthday.

Her daughter Christine Webb, 70, from Minster, said her mother does not have a secret to long life but has always been active.

She said: “She’s always led an active life.

“She used to go dancing, played cards, went swimming, walked everywhere she could and belonged to an over-60s fellowship.

“Now she likes doing puzzles, crosswords and reading. She’s still got her brain and likes to keep it exercised daily.

“Her philosophy is that there’s always somebody out there who’s worse off than you are.”

Winifred, who has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, was presented with a cake by staff at Age UK.

She then enjoyed afternoon tea at Dobbies Garden Centre in Gillingham with Christine and her husband Allen, her other daughter Linda and her son and partner, Peter and Liz.