WHEN Phyllis Bird turned 100 recently, the St Albans centenarian received so many flowers she didn’t have room for them all.

So she asked for some of the floral tributes to be placed throughout Grace Muriel House in Tavistock Avenue, so they could be enjoyed by all her fellow residents.

Phyllis, known for her passion for needlework and gardening, traits that apparently run in the family, lived in Jersey Farm for about 20 years prior to moving to Grace Muriel House.

She worked for the Great Western Railway in the drawing office at Paddington, which during the war years was moved to Aldermaston.

And during the mid-sixties she worked for the Western Region of British Railways until her retirement.

Grace Muriel House administrator, Frances Burtt, said a tea party with residents was held to celebrate Phyllis’s milestone birthday. St Albans Mayor, Cllr Aislinn Lee, presented Phyllis with flowers.

Frances said: “The staff in the kitchen at Grace Muriel made an amazing ‘100’ cake. We decorated the lounge with balloons and banners and Mrs Bird received so many flowers throughout the day she didn’t have space in her room for them all.

“She kindly asked that some were put around the house for the other residents to enjoy. Her family continued the celebrations by taking her out for lunch.”