Two hundred and three not out for amazing Banbury duo

Joyce Williamson was born in 1916 in Banbury and has lived in or around the town for all of her life.

She reached the 100-year-old milestone on November 21, receiving a traditional birthday card from the Queen and celebrating with her family who joined her at the Larkrise Care Centre in Banbury.

Joyce left school and became a hairdresser. She then met the man who was to be her husband, Charlie, and together they were well known in the town, running the Crown Inn pub on the Warwick Road in Banbury from 1957 until its closure.

She celebrated with a traditional cake and proudly showed off the Queen’s birthday card.

Meanwhile at Glebefields Care Home in Drayton, resident Ethel Shaine celebrated her 103rd birthday with daughter Joanne Amsel, son-in-law Martin, Bertie the sausage dog and friend for half a century, Mikki Hollander.

Ethel was born in Cardiff in 1913 but moved to London when she was 17 where she met her late husband.

They were married in 1934, had three children - two daughters and a son - and remained together for the next 70 years.

Ethel is a keen bridge player, a brilliant cook and was an avid mountain walker.

She moved to the Banbury area to be near her daughter Joanne.

Ethel puts her longevity down to nothing more than good genes and has a younger brother, Gerry, who became the world’s oldest over-90s tennis champion.