WHEN Adine Crow was 85 years old she refused to join an over-60s club, insisting there were too many old people. Just three years earlier she was still playing tennis, and continued to drive until the age of 92. Today (Wednesday) she celebrates her 100th

WHEN Adine Crow was 85 years old she refused to join an over-60s club, insisting there were too many old people. Just three years earlier she was still playing tennis, and continued to drive until the age of 92.

Today (Wednesday) she celebrates her 100th birthday, is as zestful as ever, and is still reputed to dance a mean samba.

A party is planned in the company of close friends and relatives at the BUPA Manor House Residential Care Home in Upwood where she lives.

Born in Surbiton, Surrey, Mrs Crow was one of four sisters and two brothers.

She volunteered as a driver during the Second World War, driving ambulances through the bombing, manoeuvring mobile canteens for people whose homes had been destroyed and chauffeuring cars for army officers.

"I worked during the Blitz, and you could hear the German planes above you," she said. "You had to just wait for the bombs. Awful, really awful, but you took no notice, and just did your driving, even with planes up above, bombing you all over the place."

Her husband, Basil, served as a captain in the army air force. After the war - and having successfully nursed her son Nicholas through polio - Mrs Crow emigrated with Basil and Nicholas to Canada in 1953.

They returned to England in 1960 to live in Kent.

A keen golfer, Mrs Crow was a member at Tanbridge Golf Club in Surrey until 1973, when she and her husband retired to Valencia, Spain. Mr Crow died in 1984.

Mrs Crow stayed in Spain for another 16 years, managing on her own with the support of close friends until she was 93.

She has fond memories of her time living in Spain: "It was a lovely country to live in."

Her love of driving and big American cars kept her on Spanish roads until she was over 90.

Her 90th birthday was reported in the Costa Blanca News, under the headline: "Adine Crow - 90 in the fast lane".

Today, Mrs Crow will see in her big day by spending time with her family, including Nicholas, now 64, a retired company director from Earith - while an evening of tea and music is planned at Manor House.

Mrs Crow will also be visited by the Mayor of Godmanchester, Councillor Richard Butcher, friends from Spain, and Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire.

And the secret to living a long and happy life? "A plain and ordinary life, not too hectic, and to just go on living until you do.