Woodbridge great-grandmother Jean Smith celebrates 100

Jean Smith enjoyed a small function at Deben View on Sunday joined by four generations of her family including her son Colin, granddaughter Toni Smith, her second granddaughter and her two great-granddaughters. 

The great-grandmother with her family (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Born into a modest farming family in Buckinghamshire, Jean was the youngest of five siblings and left school at 14 to work at the local post office.

The 100-year-old with a card from the King and Queen (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Jean was a member of a choir at the church of St Peter and St Paul in Ellesborough - which is also the local church of the Prime Minister when they are at Chequers. 

Jean aged one. (Image: Toni Smith) When Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, he often attended services at the church, although Jean can recall going to Chequers when he couldn't attend services to sing under his bedroom window. 

Jean when she was a child. (Image: Toni Smith) During the Second World War she met an RAF airman, Graham, who had been posted to the area. Romance blossomed and they got married.

Jean in her early 20s. (Image: Toni Smith) However, Graham was posted abroad for the rest of the war and Jean went to live with her in-laws in Suffolk.

Jean and Graham’s wedding in March 1945. (Image: Toni Smith) When Graham was de-mobbed, they shared a rented house with another family in Ipswich given the housing shortage but after a while they moved into a two-bedroom flat.

Jean with her first born Alan. (Image: Toni Smith) Their first son Alan was born in October 1949, and a second son a few years later. Jean was a housewife during this period and a keen ballroom dancer.

Jean and Graham’s diamond wedding anniversary. (Image: Toni Smith) In November 1970 the couple welcomed her first granddaughter Angela, followed by Toni in September 1973 and another granddaughter and grandson. 

Jean with her son Alan. (Image: Toni Smith) In September 1995 her first great-granddaughter Rebecca was born, followed by Colette in 1997, and subsequently two great-grandsons. 

Jean with Angie, her first granddaughter. (Image: Toni Smith) Angela moved to Christchurch in New Zealand in 2013 to help with reconstruction after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

Jean with Rebecca her first great-granddaughter. (Image: Toni Smith) Jean with Colette, her second great-granddaughter. (Image: Toni Smith)