A WOMAN who always dealt with the problems life threw at her with the philosophy “something will turn up” has celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Doris Barnes, who is a resident at the Devonshire Care Home, in Cavendish, had four generations of her family with her on her big day on Friday.

Mrs Barnes has three children, Brian, aged 77, Graham, 70, and Marilyn, 66, along with 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

She shared her family with her husband Harold, who were married for more than 60 years, before he died 17 years ago.

Daughter Marilyn Goodman, 66, who lives in Stoke-by-Clare, said: “My mum has always been a strong woman and she would always know how to deal with things.

“When she did not know what to do she would just say – something will turn up – and it did.”

The great-grandmother, who was born in Hackney, but spent most of her life in Essex, married her husband, who worked for the city police, in 1930.

Mrs Barnes gave up work in an office to dedicate her life to her family.

She became a resident at Devonshire Care Home, in July last year, but she broke her hip in May this year and her family feared the worse but she came back fighting.

Mrs Goodman, who has been married for 45 years, said: “She is doing really well for her age apart from some problems with dementia.

“She cannot believe she has reached 102.”

Mrs Barnes celebrated her birthday with family visits all weekend.