Centenarian Ethel Camp says she has no idea how she’s lived so long, but perhaps having a good family, being an active community member, and not breaking a hip until the age of 90, might have had something to do with it.

Ethel, who is better known to family and friends as Pin, turned 100 on Wednesday, celebrating her century at The Anchorage in Pulborough.

The Argus asked Ethel Camp her secret to life longevity, and she simply said, “I’ve no idea at all, I’ve just lived.

“I had a good husband, I had a good mum and dad, good brother and sister, the years just went by”

Ethel had humble beginnings as she was born in a tin bath which was in an outside toilet in Stockwell in 1918.

But despite that, she went on to have a remarkable and successful career..

Ethel started work at the tender age of 16, starting out with the Civil Service.

Working her way up the ranks, Ethel soon found secretarial work for some of the top people in the Civil Service at the Admiralty, as well as working the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

During the course of her career, she had a four-year period as personal secretary to Lord Mountbatten of Burma when he was the 4th Sea Lord.

Ethel reached the top of her chosen career as a secretary and retired when she was 60. It was a career she looks back on with much fondness.

Ethel married Fred Camp, who spent time in the Army, in the 1970s but they had known each other for a long time prior to that.

Pin’s nephew, Michael Pinnegar, described Fred Camp as “meticulous”.

He added: “He was the only guy I’ve ever known where if you opened the bonnet of his car there wouldn’t be a speck of dust or oil to be seen”.

Ethel has spent the last 40 years of her life in Storrington, West Sussex, and she only moved to a care home in Pulborough at the age of 97.

In her later years, Ethel became a very active member of her community, winning competitions at her bowls club and taking an important role in her horticultural society, winning cups and recognition for her skills in flower arranging.

Michael said she has had a full life with a very happy marriage, travelling throughout her life with Fred.

He added she has always been a wonderful role model to all and sundry.

But the party is not over yet for Ethel.

She is having a second celebration in the space of a week for her 100th with her friends and family today at The Crown Inn in Cootham.

No doubt all of those present will raise a glass to toast the life of a quite remarkable lady, who is still enjoying life as much as ever.