MORE than 100 friends and family mmebers turned out to mark the centenary of a well-travelled woman.

During her lifetime, Hilda Williams has lived in Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada, and met many famous faces before finally settling, in Loughton.

Born in Cheltenham as the eldest of three children, Hilda left school at the age of 17 and went to work in her father’s architects office.

At 23, she married Percy Williams who she had known since childhood.

Percy worked for the Admiralty and the pair soon moved to live in Hong Kong where they had a number of servants.

They eventually came back to England to live in Portsmouth and after the war they moved to Loughton where Hilda has stayed ever since.

She retired at the age of 82 after working part-time at the Blind Gallery, in Woodford Green, which her son Rod owns.

She now lives at Carlton House residential apartments, in Algers Road, Loughton, after moving from Spring Grove.

Daughter-in-law Alison Broome said: “She remembers well the functions that she attended during Percy’s time at the Admiralty: garden parties at Buckingham Palace, ship launchings and of course Percy’s receiving of the CBE.

“She has met many notable people including Lord Mountbatten (who she wasn’t actually impressed with but says he was very tall and good looking but a bit 'snooty'), Princess Marina, Princess Alexander and other members of the Royal Family.

“She had a lovely party with over 100 friends and family to help her celebrate this grand occasion.”