FOUR generations gathered in Petersfield to celebrate the 100th birthday of Nellie Swain.

There were 25 family members at a party at Winton House in High Street on Saturday, with 99 years between Nellie and her youngest grandchild.

Cake was enjoyed and presents and cards opened and the ‘birthday girl’ said: “It was lovely to have all my family here.”

Nellie was born near Ringwood, the only girl in a family of six brothers. She went into service after leaving school at 14, and began work on the Bereleigh Estate in East Meon as a scullery maid at the age of 20.

There she met her future husband Albert who worked on the estate farm.

Albert and Nellie married in 1940 and went on to have two children, Margaret and Peter, born in East Meon.

The family then moved to Petersfield so Albert could work at Baileys Nurseries. He had originally worked as a garden boy at Uppark House and wanted to be an estate gardener again.

Nellie also worked at the nurseries, in the fruit and vegetable shop.

Her four grandchildren and six grandchildren now keep her busy.