FRIENDS and family descended upon St John’s Honeypot Day Care centre in Trowbridge on Monday to celebrate member Kitty Thorne turning 103.

Although Mrs Thorne, of The Croft, turned 103 on January 2, the centre, in Church Lane, held a special event to make the occasion as it was the first meet-up of the year.

Dozens of members were treated to bingo, tea, cake and a rousing speech from town crier Trevor Heeks, who wished the passionate Bristol Rovers FC fan, a belated birthday.

“I had a really good time. I have been coming here for more than 10 years now and it is really good fun,” said Mrs Thorne.

“I put turning 103 down to luck really. I was a healthy eater and worked hard and I have a wonderful son, Peter, and daughter in law, Margaret, too. “

Mrs Thorne was born on January 2, 1915, to parents Charles and Edith Weston in Woking but spent her childhood, along with her brother Arthur, in Sheerness, Kent.

On Christmas Day in 1935, she married Leslie Thorne, the man who began her love of Bristol Rovers after he took her to her first game back in 1954.

In 1939, she and Leslie were evacuated to Trowbridge due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite having to move to Wiltshire, she continued to work as a catering manageress for Farma Cream Products, as it had a factory in Bythesea Road.

Mrs Thorne, who had a son called Peter in 1944, did two stints at the factory, either side of a 10-year stint at Bowyers.

Her husband died in 1959 but that did not stop her from going to as many Bristol Rovers matches as she could.

“I still cheer on my team after more than 60 years. I still love every minute of it,” said Mrs Thorne, who also worked on building Spitfire Planes during the war effort.

For an early birthday treat, Mrs Thorne and her son Peter cheered on her team as they won 2-1 against Portsmouth.

“She is such a special girl,” added Mr Heeks.