A charming and quick-witted globetrotter from Sheet who represented Australia on the world stage and hosted Princess Margaret at a picnic has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Cake, cuppas and champagne was served as family, friends and neighbours came together to celebrate Cynthia Baird’s big day on August 19, writes Jo Gray.

The centurion, recognised for her elegance and impeccable sense of style, has lived in the village with her daughter Louise for the last six years after relocating from London.

Cynthia, who has lived a fascinating and wonderful life across the globe, was born in Melbourne to parents Colonel and Mrs Hodgson in 1925.

Her father’s work as a diplomat took the family oversees in 1945, serving as Australian Ambassador to France and Japan, then High Commissioner to South Africa in Cape Town until his retirement.

Cynthia’s mother sadly died early during their time in Paris in 1946 with 22-year-old Cynthia stepping up to assist her father on official business, with the hostess becoming known as “Australia’s First Lady in France”.

The father and daughter team were highly regarded for their contribution to Australian international relations, most notably in the formation of the United Nations.

Cynthia lived in Paris for six years, studying at Sorbonne University while her father divided his time between Paris and New York.

She shared a flat with Diana Bowes-Lyon, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and was once tasked by the British Embassy to host Princess Margaret at a picnic.

Meeting dignitaries became de rigueur as she encountered the likes of HRH the Duke of Duchess of Windsor and Sir Winton Churchill at official events representing Australia.

It was in Tokyo 1951 that Cynthia met her future husband – a dashing RAF officer David Baird, an assistant attaché who also served as a liaison officer with the US Air Force. They relocated to Scotland in 1952 after marrying, with daughter Georgina born the following year. Second daughter Louise was born in Ely after the Squadron Leader’s subsequent posting.

Her fluency in French earned Cynthia the glamorous job Head of Marketing and PR for Orlane, a luxury French cosmetics company, in 1962. Declaring “Who doesn’t still want to 21?” she is credited for naming the B21 range still sold today.

She went on to launch French premium cosmetics brand Sisley in the UK in Harrods, followed by other major stores, following her husband’s death in 1978, while her retirement took her to Sicily.

Since moving to Sheet, Cynthia has enjoyed local activities and street parties for VE Day, the Platinum Jubilee, and King’s Coronation – always impeccably dressed and donning a tiara, getting into the spirit of things.

A well-known regular of the village film club, The Harrow Inn and The Queens Head, Cynthia also takes great pleasure in local pursuits including the Grange Festival Opera, Petersfield’s Shakespeare and Music Festivals, Cowdray polo, and the Goodwood races.

And the secret to looking so amazingly fit and well? Fresh food and white wine. Félicitations, Cynthia.