A “FIERCELY independent” pensioner has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Ella Cox celebrated the special day with family and friends at Sydenham House in Bridgwater.

Lesley Meaker, administrator at Sydenham House said: “Ella moved to Sydenham House in December 2008 and although her sight and her hearing has deteriorated, Ella is fiercely independent.

“She is a very quiet lady who loves to be surrounded by her family.”

Ella was born in Barclay Street, Bridgwater, on October 28, 1913.

Her mother was a midwife and her father a regular soldier. Her father was killed in action during the First World War.

She attended Eastover School and later married Frederick Lewis James Cox on September 14, 1936, at St John’s Church, Bridgwater.

The couple had one child, Martin, who lives in Kent and calls and visits Ella regularly.

Ella has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She has worked in a number of roles for various Sedgemoor companies during her long life including a radio operator at Ashcott, an ironer at Van Trump shirt factory, an office worker in Edington, an employee at Kraft Furniture, a shop assistant at Chilton Polden Post Office and the owner of the general store in Highbridge.