Centenarian with a love for cream cakes turns 103

Carys NallyWest of England
News imageMandy Pope Margaret smiles into the camera. She's wearing a purple coat. A mirror behind her shows a young girl taking the photo. Margaret has short, white hair. Mandy Pope
Margaret will have a Victoria Sponge with cream and strawberry jam on her birthday

A centenarian with a love for cream cakes plans to celebrate her birthday at her favourite cafe.

Margaret Montagu, who is turning 103, will be settling in for a birthday meal with friends at M&M cafe in Somerton, Somerset, later.

She broken her hip during a fall last year but is determined to make it back to the cafe for her birthday, where she will celebrate by eating a Victoria Sponge with cream and strawberry jam.

Mandy Pope, owner of the cafe, said of her friend: "She eats them like anything - they reckon cream is bad for you, well I don't think so."

Margaret, who has lived in Somerton for most of her life, is a popular figure in the community and will have her friends at the cafe rallying around her later.

Mandy said: "She's got this little red buggy, and I've actually had people come into the cafe as ask if the woman with the red buggy would be in today.

"They actually come in and ask if she'll be in because they just think she's amazing."

News imageMandy Pope A group of seven people sit around a table at a cafe, with Margaret at the head of the table wearing a purple coat and smiling. Everyone looks towards the camera and smiles. To the right, above their heads, balloons are hanging from the ceiling. Mandy Pope
Margaret with friends at her 102nd birthday celebration at the cafe

Nikki Kelly, Margaret's cleaner and carer, told the BBC that the 103-year-old was "amazed" she was still here today.

"She doesn't look her age, she looks about 20 years younger," she said.

"She sets herself goals all the time - her goal is to get back on the scooter, to make herself a cup of tea."

The mother of three served in the Women's Royal Naval Service in Wales and is still keen on keeping to the rules.

Nikki said: "She is very organised. She has her routines so she's capable to doing things.

"Where there's a will, there's a way - that's her mantra."

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