CHAMPAGNE, a special cake and the gift of a tree made the 100th birthday of Norah McRae a particularly special one.

Norah, who lives at Pilcher's Field, Crapstone, was delighted with the presents and well-wishes from friends, fellow residents and present and past staff of the Abbeyfield Home.

Taking pride of place on the mantlepiece full of cards was a telegramme from the Queen and greetings from the mayor and mayoress of West Devon.

Chairman of the executive committee for Pilchers Field, Dr Mike Inman, welcomed guests who gathered in the sunny garden.

He then placed a plaque beside the tree — an Acer Palmatum Senkaki — and invited Norah to ceremoniously place the first shovel of earth around her gift.

The plaque read: 'This tree celebrates the 100th birthday of Norah McRae 15th May 2002'.

Norah has lived in an Abbeyfield Home at Crapstone for more than 20 years, having arrived in March 1982. She moved to the present building when it opened in August 1992.

Born in Plymouth, she moved to Chippenham with her husband who was in the RAF.

After the war her husband worked for Dudley Coles and the couple settled in Tavistock, where they lived in Down Road.

'I was swimming at Kelly College pool until last year,' said Norah, who enjoys an active life.

'But I had to stop swimming because I had a cataract operation.

'Now I can read the smallest print. It is a marvellous operation,' she said.

She hopes to get back to the pool later this year.

In the meantime, she can relax in the garden and watch her tree grow.