A landmark hundredth birthday has been celebrated by a Lound resident.
Lily Gosling marked her 100th birthday on March 20 surrounded by friends and family including her two week old great granddaughter – Primerose-Lily Phillips.
Born Lily Swann, in Saxmundham, in 1917 her family moved to Lowestoft while her father was owner of the Black Swan pub in Norwich.
Aged 17 she met her husband, Bert Gosling, when he asked to borrow her pushbike and following a brief courtship the couple married on November 9 in 1934 at a registry office in Norwich.
The couple went on to have three daughters – Lily, Pearl and Kay.
Mrs Gosling's youngest daughter Kay Ling, 56, said: 'Mum has always been caring – firm but fair.
'She loved her lippy and her high heels and until recently, when she became less mobile, she loved going out dancing, to bingo or for days out to enjoy fish and chips.'
During the Second World War Mrs Gosling worked in a munitions factory before taking on her role as dinner lady at the former Lothingland Middle School – for which she is best-known to the community.
She is also fondly known in the Lound community, where she has lived since 1958, for supplying locals with her homemade wine, consisting of an eclectic range of flavours such as elderflower and spinach.
Reflecting on her landmark birthday Mrs Gosling said: 'My secret to long life is a tipple of sherry or my own homemade wine.
'Turning 100 feels no different to any other birthday really.'
Mrs Gosling's granddaughter, Suzi Russell, added: 'She's had visitors all week with so many cards and flowers - as well as a card from the Queen and a telegram from the secretary of state for Work and Pensions.
'She has some fantastic stories and always comments on the news or any new technology she sees.
'When I bought Primrose a new buggy, Nan joked 'they weren't like that in my day'.'
She added: 'Nan has always had a young outlook on life which I think is really important and we always joke she will outlive us all!'
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