From Balfour to Blair, Alice Skaife has seen the country led by 19 different Prime Ministers as she celebrates her 100th birthday this week.

A party was held on Monday for Alice by her friends in the Glen Rosa nursing home, Ilkley.

The centenarian was born on March 25 1902, in Nidderdale and moved to West Hall Farm, Nesfield, in 1918, where she stayed until 1931.

For 11 years she worked in a dress shop on The Grove, Ilkley, before meeting her future husband, Benson Skaife.

Their romance began at West Hall Farm where he would often call to collect their grocery orders.

They were married and they moved to Darley, in Nidderdale, where, as an active member of the Primitive Methodist Church, she became a church steward for 30 years.

Her husband became a partner in the family grocery and cattle food business or R Skaife and Sons.

Unfortunately, he died in 1977, but Alice continued to live in Darley. Then in 1990 Alice moved to Glen Rosa, where she has enjoyed an active life for the past 11 years.

Alice has also lived through five different monarchs and is looking forward to joining in the Queens Golden Jubilee celebrations in June.

Her daughter, Ruth Pringle lives in Menston.

l ABOVE: Alice Skaife celebrates her 100th birthday with her great-grandson, Thomas Pringle, of Menston.