A woman who has lived at properties owned by Walton Charity for the past 15 years has celebrated her 105th birthday.

Born in 1908, Dorothy Bateman, a resident at Sherwood House, was one of nine children and has lived in Walton since 1952.

Mrs Bateman and her late husband, Clifford, married in April 1934 and their first son, Howard, was born in 1938.

With the onset of the Second World War and her husband working at Vickers, Weybridge, as an aircraft inspector, the family moved to Addlestone and their second son, Paul, was born in 1944.

Eight years later, the family moved to Walton and Mrs Bateman has remained in the area ever since.

To celebrate her milestone birthday on November 5, Mrs Bateman was treated to a party, with Howard, 75, who lives in Alverstoke, Hampshire, and Paul, 69, who lives in Oxshott, in attendance alongside some old friends.

Guests enjoyed an afternoon of chatting, sandwiches, cake and bubbly, while Mrs Bateman opened cards and presents, including a card from the Queen.

Paul Bateman, Dorothy’s youngest son, said: “I told her about the party during the week and she couldn’t quite understand. When the manager of the care home came in to her room in the morning, she was walking around already dressed saying where is everybody and when are they coming for my party.

“When I went around with the balloons, she had laid all the tables out and put the chairs around because she was expecting the party to be in her room.

“She was really pleased when we took her out and she saw it all. She remembers a lot from the past. I gave her a dressing gown and she said ‘Clifford gave me a dressing gown straight after we got married’. She remembers all the way back.”

Despite her hearing and sight loss, Mrs Bateman is in good health and enjoys walking around the care home and sitting in the garden; a pastime she enjoyed with her husband.

Along with two sons, Mrs Bateman has seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, who will all visit her to help her celebrate her birthday.