Gosport's Stella Edmondson celebrates her 100th birthday

Stella Edmondson celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, July 8 at Canford Manor in Lee-on-the-Solent. Picture: Sarah Standing.

The birthday girl, originally from Bournemouth, raised a glass of her favourite ginger wine to toast her special milestone.

Stella, who now lives at Canford Manor, Gosport, settled in Gosport after living in Canterbury and Bournemouth for most of her life.

During the Second World War, she worked as a nurse in the Voluntary Aid Detachment, where she met her first husband Michael Antrobus.

Daughter Sue Wells reads with her mum Stella Edmondson. Picture: Sarah Standing.

‘They met while my father was recovering in hospital after his ship had been sunk,’ says Stella’s daughter, Sue Wells.

In 1944, the couple married and had three daughters Sue, Caroline and Sarah.

Throughout her life, Stella also worked as a jeweller after learning to string pearls together when she was younger and married David Edmondson after she separated from Michael.

To celebrate such a milestone, Stella enjoyed two birthday parties – one at Canford Manor with a visit from Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Kathleen Jones and friends, and another with her family.

Sue says: ‘It was lovely. It’s just amazing how she’s reached this age.

‘There is no history of longevity in our family either. And she still enjoys her ginger wine.’