A GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER turned 106 over the weekend and celebrated with a garden party at her care home in Old Town.

Birthday girl Freda Comer was surrounded by loved ones as she enjoyed the party at Kingsmead Care Home on Saturday, the day before her actual birthday on Sunday.

Many balloons and banners were put up for the occasion, with a gazebo out in the garden full of refreshments and, of course, a cake.

Freda said: “I’m very happy, my family have all come to visit me today, it’s wonderful.

“When I got to 100 I thought ‘My goodness, where have the years gone?’ and now the past six years have gone so quickly too.

“I’ll celebrate today with a drop of brandy.”

She was all smiles as she entered a room full of four generations of her extensive family and in-laws.

That positive attitude and the occasional drink have kept her in high spirits all these years.

The mother-of-two received a birthday card from the Queen, which she can now add to a collection that is growing steadily.

The Queen sent Freda a card on her 100th birthday, then another when she turned 105 last year.

Freda said: “The cake is lovely and beautiful, and to get another card from the Queen as well is wonderful.”

Her daughter Ann Sutton was delighted to be celebrating this special day.

She said: “It’s great, she’s amazing for her age.

“Kingsmead have made the cake and put this garden party together, it’s a big family gathering.”

Freda was born in Cricklade in 1911 where she grew up with four brothers and three sisters.

When she was 14, she moved to London to go into service as a maid, where she met her first husband Charles Cole.

She was married to the wood machinist for 41 years until his death in 1975.

Her family moved to Highworth when the Second World War broke out and she worked hard on the family farm for many years.

Her second husband Ted Comer, who she married in 1985, died in 1995.

As well as daughters Ann and Brenda, Freda has four grandchildren: Lynne, Trina, Kevin and Stephen, plus five great-grandchildren - Richard, Jonathan, Kieran, Robert and Fleur.

She is also a great-great-grandmother to Chelsea and Leo.