EAST Oxford resident Terry Webb reached a double milestone yesterday – she turned 100 and became the first person in a new hospital to do so.

Mrs Webb celebrated with family and staff at the community hospital in the John Radcliffe Hospital, with Champagne and cake.

And, as an ardent royalist, she was delighted to receive a letter from the Queen.

Her sister Wynne McKay, 95, also joined in the celebrations and said she was looking forward to celebrating her own 100th.

When she saw the picture of the Queen, Mrs Webb quipped “Oh look it’s Wynne!”

The family has always joked that Mrs McKay bears a strong resemblance to the Queen.

Mrs Webb said: “I hope the Queen will live to that age as her mother lived to 101 after all.”

Although she toasted the occasion with a glass of bubbly, she admitted she didn’t really like the drink saying: “The only thing I ever have is the occasional sherry.”

Mrs Webb first moved to Oxford when she was a young girl. Her husband, Bill, was a career soldier and captain in the Royal Scots Guards.

Mrs Webb said: “We were stationed in Egypt when the Second World War broke out, then we went to Burma and then I was evacuated to South Africa.”

Later in life they were stationed in Germany and Libya before returning to Oxford. Mr Webb died 41 years ago.

Mrs Webb’s nephew, Richard Higgins, 61, of Fruitlands, Eynsham, attributed his aunt’s long life to the fact “she is a very strong willed lady”.

Mrs Webb, who lives by herself, is in hospital after she tripped on a step and has had to have a hip replacement.

She said: “I am being treated extremely well”.

Matron Sandra Allen, 50, said Mrs Webb was the first person to celebrate their 100th birthday at the hospital since it opened last month. She added: “Terry is a bit of a character — she will tell what she wants and how she feels.

“I think she is a great example of how the community hospital can rehabilitate people with injuries if they have the motivation.”

Mrs Webb’s advice to anyone wanting to live to 100 was to “take everything in moderation”.