SHE has seen two world wars, a king’s abdication and the Queen’s coronation, and Edith Reynolds is still going strong after celebrating her 100th birthday.

Mrs Reynolds, whose big day was on March 2, celebrated her centenary with her family, friends and staff at Forest Place Nursing home in Buckhurst Hill.

Her son, Derek Reynolds, said: ''It was an excellent celebration. Mum received her birthday card from the Queen. Ten members of our family attended and celebrated with the staff where we had birthday cake and champagne. She also received good wishes from family members across the world, from Florida to British Columbia.”

Mrs Reynolds was born Edith Brister in Rotherhithe in 1909, the third of five children. Sadly, her older siblings died, leaving Edith the eldest of three surviving daughters.

She was only six when the first world war broke out and, after leaving school, she worked for a biscuit manufacturers as a packer, along with her two sisters.

She met her husband, Frederick, at a party and married him in 1934, aged 25.

The young couple moved to Bermondsey where their only son, Derek, was born in 1935, before moving again, this time to Barkingside.

By the time the Second World War broke out in 1939, Edith, who had been a housewife and full time mother, was working part time in a local newsagents which was also the post office, while Frederick worked as a tea taster.

Derek said: ‘‘A bomb fell near the house and there were no tiles left on the roof and no windows. Luckily we were all out at the time. Edith was always placid and laid back. Nothing ever seemed to worry her.’’ The family acquired their first television set in 1952 and it was something that Edith adored. Derek said: ‘‘She had no time for the wireless, but everything had to be ready in time for when the television came on.’’