Four generations came together last Thursday to celebrate a 100th birthday in St Keverne.

Christine House marked her centenary at Polventon House care home with visits from her family and friends, including guests of honour Holly, eight and five-year-old Rosie, two of her seven great grandchildren.

An exciting life began for Christine on March 31, 1916 in Malaya, where her father was one of the very early British rubber planters.

She returned to England to go to school, but went back to Malaya in her twenties, taking with her one of the first English motorbikes to be seen in the back country rubber estates.

Back in England at the outbreak of the Second World War, she joined up and became an ambulance driver.

While doing this job in London during the Blitz she met her future husband, Squadron Leader Bill House, a night fighter pilot flying Mosquitos with 85 squadron.

Like many couples of that era, who never knew what the next day would bring, they worked hard and played hard, sharing many adventures.

When Bill retired from the RAF in 1965 the couple embarked on a new life as hoteliers, ending up as owners of Charlton House Hotel in Shepton Mallet, Somerset with her son Richard and daughter-in-law Gina.

Christine and Bill finally retired in 1988 and moved to Spain. After Bill died in 1994, Christine went to live with Richard and Gina, and granddaughter Zoe, spending nine years at the Bay Hotel in Coverack before moving to Polventon last year.