A Cross Hills resident was rewarded with an ample serving of cake for her 102nd birthday.

Mary Shaw, of Beanlands Nursing Home in Colne Road, received the treat from the home’s staff last Thursday, though her actual birthday was the following day.

She was born Mary Smith in Shipley, and was a pupil at Bradford Girls Grammar School.

She still remembers attending the school at the same time as Barbara Castle, who was at one point the longest-serving female MP in the history of the House of Commons.

Mrs Shaw’s father was a quantity surveyor, and she spent some time working for him as a secretary.

In 1940 she married George Shaw – a wool merchant and topmaker – and the couple went on to have one son, Martin. George died in 1972.

Martin, who attended his mother’s birthday celebrations last week, said: “She’s been interested in wild flowers and gardening, and she has been a member of Shipley Golf Club since 1928.

“She carried on playing golf into her 80s, and she was still living at home until about a year ago.”