A FORMER nurse and matron turned 100 years old last week and celebrated the occasion at her care centre in Alloa.

Family and dignitaries gathered to mark the milestone of Bessie Fells at Parklands Care Home on August 28 with staff cooking up a treat for the centenarian.

Bessie was born in South Anston, South Yorkshire, later becoming a mother to two boys with husband Charles, who went on to work in the textile industry following WWII.

She moved to Leeds to study paediatric nursing and during the war Bessie was matron of a nursery, looking after children of women who supported the war effort at ammunition factories.

Throughout her life, she put others in front of herself in her various roles caring for the sick and children.

Bessie and Charles tied the knot in 1944 while he was still serving.

Once the children flew out the nest, the centenarian went back to looking after other people’s children, this time providing specialist care to those with additional needs.

Throughout the years, Bessie has been an avid fan of operetta, a light genre of opera, enjoying dancing and singing as well as reading in her free time.

Family holidays to Whitby were an annual favourite and the 100-year-old moved to Scotland after the passing of Charles to be closer to son Richard, who married an Alloa girl and retired to the area with his wife.

On her 100th birthday, Bessie received a card from the queen, later sharing a meal with her son, his wife, Provost Tina Murphy and Deputy Lord-Lieutenant John MacPherson.