A FORMER Poole hotel worker – and keen dancer – has waltzed on to the ripe old age of 105.

Great grandmother Cecilia Barton celebrated her 105th birthday with a tea party at Great Oaks Care Home in Bournemouth, including showing off her birthday card from King Charles and The Queen Consort in pride of place.

She was joined by family, friends and the Great Oaks team to celebrate her milestone, enjoying cupcakes, tea and balloons.

Born in Cobh, Ireland, in 1919, Cecilia was the youngest of 10 children. She moved to the UK before the outbreak of the Second World War and lived in Yorkshire and the Midlands with her sisters.

In the 1950s, Cecilia worked at the Viking bicycle factory in Wolverhampton, before moving to Poole in 1961 and working in hotels and later in a factory in Wallisdown, which supplied makeup for Max Factor.

A keen dancer, Cecilia once made an appearance on Come Dancing in the 1970s.

Cecilia Barton celebrated her 105th birthday at Great Oaks

She married Jack Barton in 1952 in Wolverhampton and they were married for 52 years, until his death in 2006.

Cecilia and Jack had two children together and today Cecilia enjoys a large, multi-generational family with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

However, she could not put her finger on the secret behind her long life.

“I’ve no idea what the secret to a long life is, but I suspect it runs in the genes,” she said.

“Almost all my siblings have lived for a long time, my brother reached 104. Although at 105 I seem to have surpassed them all.

“It was lovely to celebrate my birthday with my loved ones around me and many thanks to the caring team here at Great Oaks for making it all happen.”