An Eastbourne resident celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday (September 29).

Nelly Cooper, a resident of Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes in Seaside, enjoyed an afternoon tea to mark the extraordinary milestone.

A mother of two, a grandmother to four and a great-grandmother to eight, much of Nelly’s family visited on Sunday to celebrate with her, but her son Tony and his family live in Australia.

Born in London in 1926, Nelly worked as a chef and was renowned for her pastry. She has lived in Eastbourne for about 27 years and Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes for two years.

Nelly Cooper, who turned 100 on Tuesday (September 29). Photo: contributed

placeholder image — Nelly Cooper, who turned 100 on Tuesday (September 29). Photo: contributed

Her daughter Lesley told The Herald that her mum’s secret to reaching a century was her healthy cooking and eating and ‘a wry sense of humour’.

Lesley said: “I think everybody is really in awe of it, to reach 100, and it hasn’t been through easy living or a soft life.

“She's always worked hard. Because she's such a good cook, everything was cooked from scratch, and she didn't have anything that was out of a can or a packet. Her cooking was excellent.”