When Alice Smith was born, the year was 1905, King Edward VII was on the throne and Arthur Balfour was Prime Minister.
On Friday, she reflected on the monarchs and Government leaders she has outlived when she celebrated her 104th birthday.
Miss Smith, who lives at Stowlangtoft Nursing Home, was born in Manchester and spent most of her life there. She trained as a book binder and held a clerical position with a wholesale lingerie firm.
Her niece Brenda Johnson said: "When she was in her 30s she went to Canada, as she had an aunt there, but she couldn't get a job as she couldn't speak French.
"She was quite adventurous really. She came back around the outbreak of World War Two and she said they were followed all the way by a German U-boat."
Miss Smith lived independently in her Manchester flat until a fall when she was 97. She has been at Stowlangtoft since.
On Friday, she enjoyed a tea party at the home surrounded by family, residents and staff.
"She's always good fun with a sense of humour and quite cheeky. She's just been a lovely auntie and always was," added Brenda.
Click here to go back to our main news index. 