A VISIT from the police is not the way most people would choose to celebrate their birthday – but for Hilda Chambers, celebrating her 100th birthday was more a question of blue lights than blue rinses.

She was given a lift through St Ives under lights and sirens to a birthday party last Tuesday to mark her birthday at a Champagne reception at A’diva Hair Design.

She then continued the party the next day with friends at St Ives Day Care Centre, where she visits three days a week, which included a visit from the Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Martin Collier.

Mrs Chambers, of Willow Way, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I was told the police were going to come and take me. Then they said they had found out there was someone turning 100, and they came to take me to the hairdressers.”

Born in Cheshunt on September 27, 1911, Mrs Chambers left school at 14 and began a career as an examiner at a shoe factory, where she worked until she retired, aged 63.

Aged 21, she married Albert Chambers, and they went on to have two children, Jean and Rosalind. She now also has a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.

After Mr Chambers died, she found love again with her partner Stanley, with whom she travelled around the world, before settling with him in St Ives in 1980.

Mrs Chambers said: “There have been hard times over the years, but I have been lucky. I’ve had the chance to travel all over the world. I’ve had a good life.”

And Mrs Chambers’ secret to a long and happy life?

Regular fun and exercise, she says with a wink – and enjoying the occasional dirty joke.