Ivy Meenan, a veteran of World War Two, marked her 105th birthday surrounded by loved ones. Meenan served for four years in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women's branch of the British army, joining at the age of 20.
Born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, she was stationed in Cornwall. There, her role as a range finder involved targeting enemy bombers as part of an anti-aircraft gun unit. She met her late husband, Johnnie, who was serving in the RAF, at a dance in 1942.
Meenan celebrated her milestone birthday at Wilson Keys retirement home in Rugeley, Staffordshire. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she stated, "It's a mystery to me – living a good life and a happy marriage." She added, "I tell you what I do a lot of sleeping. When I sit here by myself, I doze off."
Her son, Peter, remarked to BBC Midlands Today, "She's 105 and she's achieved such a lot. It's very strange to be approaching 80 and still have a mother who thinks you're adolescent."
Last year, it was estimated that fewer than 8,000 British veterans from World War Two were still alive. In recent days, two other veterans also celebrated birthdays and reflected on their service. George Durrant, from Crawley in West Sussex, turned 102. He lived through the Blitz and served in India and Myanmar during the war. Bob Tait, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, celebrated his 100th birthday, surrounded by family and friends at his care home.