A WOMAN who has read The Argus all her life will see herself in the paper today in time for her 100th birthday tomorrow.

Brighton-born Grace Vine will be “absolutely thrilled”, staff at Rottingdean Nursing and Care Home said.

Activities co-ordinator at the home Lorraine Packham said Grace was hard of hearing.But she said: “Spoken conversation is sometimes tough for Grace, but that’s not true when it comes to reading –she loves it.

“She’ll be delighted.”

Her nephew David Pointet is taking the whole family for a party in Rottingdean at the weekend and promises plenty of cake.

He said: “She’s excited. She’s very quiet and reserved, and not keen on hogging the limelight, but she can’t wait.

“She’s so well meaning, and kind to everyone.”

Grace was born in Brighton on August 17, 1919.

She has lived most of her life in Patcham, but at the end of the Second World War, she was sent up to a farm in Ripon, Yorkshire, to work in the Women’s Land Army.

There, she was charged with looking after livestock on several farms and stayed in the county afterwards to work at a paint company.

David said Grace, who never married, became “an adopted aunt of the family”.

He said: “I’ve known her since I was born.

“My father was the marketing director of the painting firm and she was his secretary.

“We became as close as family.”

In 1956, Grace came back to Brighton to look after her parents.

Here, she worked as secretary to the chancellor of the University of Brighton.

Ten years ago, at 90 years old, Grace flew to Hong Kong.

She had kept in touch with students she met at the university and went out to visit them.

David said: “The whole family are coming to see her on Saturday.

“That will be my 93-year-old father, my two sisters, my brother, and all our husbands and wives.

“I visit Grace once a week and I can see how much she’s been looking forward to it.

“She’s read the Argus all her life – she will be so happy to see herself in it.”