A 102-year-old marked her birthday by meeting up with some old friends on a special day out.

Marion Brushett, who lives at Fern House Independent Living in Bingley, turned 102 on February 15.

“Marion celebrated her day by going to Bradford Bridge Club and she also visited Heaton where she grew up,” said Georgia Lister, activities co-ordinator at Fern House.

“It was a great day celebrating.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Marion Brushett blows out the candles of her cake.Marion Brushett blows out the candles of her cake. (Image: UGC)

Marion's daughter, Helen Parkinson, said: “The activities coordinators arranged to take her to Bradford Bridge Club.

“She met up with a lot of people she used to play bridge with, so it was sort of a reunion for them.

“It was a busy day, but my mother said to me: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed myself’.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Marion Brushett celebrates her 102nd birthday.Marion Brushett celebrates her 102nd birthday. (Image: UGC)

Mrs Parkinson said her mother started playing bridge after she retired at the age of 60.

She played bridge for many years before she moved into Fern House, an Abbeyfield retirement village.

Mrs Parkinson said: “My mother has been going to Fern House in Bingley since just after it was first built. She was one of the first to move in.

“She likes it there. All of the staff are very kind to her.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Marion Brushett, 102, on the Fern House minibus on her special day out.Marion Brushett, 102, on the Fern House minibus on her special day out. (Image: UGC)

Mrs Parkinson said her mother has spent her life living in Bingley and Heaton.

Marion worked in the Civil Service and she was a teacher who taught English at a school on Drummond Road in Manningham.

“She also helped students with reading difficulties,” said Mrs Parkinson.

Before her working life, Mrs Parkinson said her mum served in the Army with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

In addition to playing bridge, Mrs Parkinson said her mum enjoyed walking.

“She loved to go out walking. She had a group of friends that she would go out walking in the Dales. She just generally liked to get out and about. She still likes doing things.

"She's doing incredibly well," added Mrs Parkinson.

"She doesn’t need hearing aids and she can see what's going on around her. She's plodding on day by day."

And when asked what her mother would say was the key to a long life, Mrs Parkinson replied: “In the past, my mother has said that would be having a happy childhood’.”