King Charles wishes Oxfordshire woman a happy 100th birthday

Barbara Evelyn Mary Lean, now Samuels, turned 100 on April 30 and received a royal birthday card at her home in Abingdon. She plans to open it during a family celebration.

Originally from Horrabridge in Devon, she has lived a long life filled with stories from the past, growing up on Dartmoor with no indoor toilet and drawing water from a well.

Her son, Peter, said: “She loved it and is now looking forward to the family gathering on her actual birthday which is Thursday.

“She was thrilled to receive a birthday card from the king this morning but will open it on her actual birthday.”

A larger celebration was held earlier in the month, with 80 friends and neighbours joining her at The Conservative Club in Abingdon on April 18.

Mrs Samuels later enjoyed a quieter party with family on her birthday at Limoncello restaurant in Abingdon.

She was married to an RAF pilot who trained in the US under the Arnold Scheme and flew a Harvard training plane in Florida before piloting a Mk 5 Spitfire in 1943.

He was eventually shot down in Holland and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft One on the Baltic coast.