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'Help one another', says woman on 100th birthday

Dorothy Howard was surprised by BBC Radio Oxford's Sophie Law

A woman who has just turned 100 has said "helping one another" is what life is all about.

Dorothy Howard celebrated with family and friends in Witney on Thursday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford's Sophie Law, Mrs Howard described those at her party as her "guardian angels".

Her son Richard said his mother still lived independently and continued to cook for herself but was reducing the amount of jobs she did around the house.

Dorothy Howard smiles for a photo in her wheelchair. She s wearing a light purple cardigan over a dark purple roll neck jumper. She is wearing glasses and has her hands raised in celebration. Pink balloons spelling '100' can be seen in the background.
Ms Howard's son Richard said his mother still cooked for herself but had decided to get a cleaner

He said she told him she "can't do much cleaning around the house now, so I'm going to get a cleaner".

To which he replied: "I think you probably deserve that, Mum."

Asked what it takes to get to 100, Ms Howard said: "Being a happy family, I think."

"Life is meant to be about helping one another. I don't see wrong in anyone," she added.

The centurion was urged to "have a good knees up" on behalf of BBC Radio Oxford, to which she replied: "If I could I would!"

A woman leans down to be given a kiss on the cheek by Dorothy, who is embracing the side of the woman's head. Flowers can be seen on the tables nearby.
Ms Howard described family and friends at her party as her "guardian angels"

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