Great-great day for a great-great grandmother

From the archive, first published Tuesday 10th Apr 2007.

IT was a real family affair when Elsie Daniell celebrated her 100th birthday with four generations of her family.

Elsie, who lives at the Hollymeade Cottage nursing home, Runwell, was with son Brian, 77, granddaughter Marion Butler, 47, great- granddaughter Stacy Butler, 22, and great-great- grandson Bradley Howard, two.

Elsie, a former shorthand typist for Assam Bengal Railway, was born in Hackney and started her working life in the City of London working for the railway company.

She said: "Most of the deals were done using only diamonds and precious stones. During the war my only son was evacuated but I missed him so much I brought him back to London."

Now her son Brian lives nearby in Wickford and the rest of her family live in Pitsea and Langdon Hills.