CAKE and Buck s fizz were part of the celebrations when Ivy Benson celebrated her 102nd birthday on New Year s Day. At her party at Ringshill care home in Huntingdon were her niece, Linda Serjent, from Huntingdon, and her nephew Graham Fitzroy, who had t

CAKE and Buck's fizz were part of the celebrations when Ivy Benson celebrated her 102nd birthday on New Year's Day.

At her party at Ringshill care home in Huntingdon were her niece, Linda Serjent, from Huntingdon, and her nephew Graham Fitzroy, who had travelled from Bristol.

Mrs Benson was born the youngest of nine children near Knotty Ash in Liverpool. Her father was a carpenter and her mother - who turned their front room into a corner shop - insisted that her youngster daughter have a career so that she "would not be dependent upon a man".

Ivy became an English teacher and taught in secondary schools in Liverpool and Manchester. After the death of her husband, Frank, Mrs Benson moved to Birmingham to be near her niece Elizabeth Fitzroy, and after Elizabeth died, Mrs Benson moved to Huntingdonshire, near the home of another niece, Linda.

Mrs Serjent said her aunt had been a keen knitter and enjoyed cross-stitch embroidery until she became unable to do the work and she still enjoyed good conversation, good company and reading.