A PORT Seton resident and devout church member has celebrated her 100th birthday in style, at a special tea party among family and friends.

Beatrice McMurray, who marked her centenary year in Viewforth Gospel Hall, was said to be “thrilled” by the card she received from the Queen, presented to her by Lyn Marshall, Deputy Lieutenant for East Lothian.

Lyn said: “It was a delight to meet Beatrice on such a special day.

“She was so thrilled and honoured to be recognised by HM The Queen on her 100th birthday.

“I managed to spend a short time hearing about her wartime sign-up and then her work at Humbie residential village with her late husband.

“She was loving the occasion and even took to the microphone to thank everyone for attending.

“I am honoured to have been invited to meet this very special lady and present the card from Her Majesty.”

Beatrice Maud Boyce was born on November 1, 1921 in Norwich, one of seven children. When Beatrice was three, her family moved to South Shields, where her father had a job as a rigger, maintaining the pier.

A child of poor health, Beatrice was invited to Sunday School by a friend and, despite a warning from her mother not to tell her atheist father, continued to attend for a few years.

When the Second World War broke out, Beatrice joined the armed forces as an office worker and tailoress, notably sending her mum her 30-shillings-a-week wages.

She tried to donate blood but was so anaemic that she had to receive a blood transfusion.

After the war, Beatrice’s family moved to Silloth in Cumbria.

With few job opportunities in the area, Beatrice moved to Glasgow, where she met her husband-to-be, James Barnes McMurray, at Kings Park Baptist Church.

They were married in 1967 and, although they had no children, wanted to work with youngsters; in 1970, they were introduced to the Humbie Children’s Village, where Beatrice’s tailoring and James’s carpentry skills made them perfect house parents until they both retired.

Upon retirement, the couple moved to Port Seton, where they attended Viewforth Gospel Hall.

James passed away, at the age of 92, in May this year after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Alan Shearer, a fellow church member and friend of Beatrice’s, said: “Her birthday was a happy occasion which included family, friends and neighbours, and a slightly disbelieving lady who couldn’t imagine she would ever reach such a landmark age!”