STONEHOUSE’s oldest resident has been celebrating her 107th birthday with a well-earned glass of champagne.

On Wednesday, October 27 Joyce Coates, one of the UK’s oldest residents, had a quiet party with her family and carers from Regency Care Home in Stonehouse.

The small celebration included a birthday cake, some new clothes and a glass of champagne.

Joyce also received her fourth birthday card from the Queen, having received one on her 100th birthday and each year since she turned 105.

Having lived in Stonehouse ever since she was born in 1910, the town of Stonehouse holds a special place in her heart.

Joyce ran the hairdressers salon called Annette’s on the High Street for many years.

She married the love of her life Len, a farmer who also lived in Stonehouse, and the couple moved into the house next door from Joyce’s parents.

Her father owned a cobblers shop in front of the family home in the High Street and made and mended shoes for a living.

Sadly Len passed away around 30 years ago, the couple never had children but were happily married for many years.

Although Joyce never had any children, her nieces Jill Middleton and Jackie Williams still visit Joyce at the care home, where she has lived for nine years.

Joyce isn’t as active as she once was but she now enjoys some of the more simple things in life.

“Joyce still enjoys putting on her lipstick, sitting at the window and most notably food,” said Margaret Buckingham, the manager at Regency Care Home.

“She loves marmalade on toast in the morning, porridge, bacon and eggs, and she normally has three cups of tea each morning.”

Everyone at the SNJ would like to wish Joyce a very happy birthday.