A GREAT-grandmother in Burnt Oak who is ‘kind, gentle and always smiling’ has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Noreen Baxter commemorated 100 years of life with a party attended by her friends and family at Wood Court residents’ care home today (August 30).

She received cards from the Queen and Damian Green MP, the secretary for work and pensions, as well as gifts and cakes from people close to her.

Her sons Richard, Bill and John all attended the celebrations along with Noreen’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Their brother Kenneth passed away two years ago.

Richard, who now lives in Australia and came to visit especially, said: “Our mother is a kind, gentle woman who has done a fantastic job raising four children and watching their own families grown.

“She always has a smile for you and is doing very well health-wise in her later years.”

Noreen, who was born in India and moved to the UK with her family in 1956, worked in the refectory at Edgware Community Hospital for many years.

For a long time, she lived independently in Colindale with the help of carers before moving to Wood Court last year, where she is popular with residents and staff.

Former manager James Adedoyin, who also came back just for Noreen’s 100th, said: “She is the loveliest person, always raising spirits and looking fantastic still.

“She’s incredibly peaceful and always ready with a compliment if she likes something, but equally likely to call something out if she doesn’t like it.”

Noreen was given bouquets of posies by her great-grandchildren Sidney, Scarlett, Erin and Pia.

She also received cards from the Queen and Damian Green MP, the secretary for work and pensions, as well as gifts and cakes from people close to her.