Wiltshire’s oldest resident is celebrating 110 years

Wiltshire’s oldest resident has celebrated her 110th birthday.

Anne Baker, from Salisbury, is the second oldest person in the South West and 18th in Britain.

The mother-of-five marked the milestone by gathering some of her children, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren for a party at local pub, The Rose and Crown.

The author was awarded an MBE in 2020 for her work supporting the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) for 60 years.

Making the Guinness World Records for being the oldest person ever to receive an MBE, Mrs Baker said she was privileged to have raised thousands of pounds for a charity she was passionate about.

Her son David Baker said his mother always loved children and was very proud of her large family, which includes 50 direct descendants.

“My mother is very happy and loves all the attention,” he said.

“It thrives on activities and people coming.

“We had a family party at the Rose and Crown on Sunday and it was glorious.

“The weather was fantastic – my mum was surrounded by grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and they loved it.

“Mom loved seeing all these people who had come to celebrate her birthday.”

Mrs Baker has been involved with the RAF since she was born in 1914. One of her earliest memories is having lunch with her mother when someone came to say the First World War was over.

“Tears were streaming down his face – it was such beautiful news to see,” she previously told BBC Wiltshire.

“We didn’t go anywhere right away because we all got the awful flu after the war.”