HASLEMERE Methodist Church pulled out all the stops to celebrate the 100th birthday of inspirational parishioner Elsie Broughton, better known as “Miss Elsie”.

Miss Elsie learned computer skills in her 90s at Haslewey Community Centre in Wey Hill in order to write ‘My Ockenden Adventure’, recollections of the 30 years she spent working as a cook and gardener for Ockenden Venture refugee charity at its two Haslemere houses – Quartermaine and Keffolds. She subsequently made contact with former colleagues and refugee children cared for by Ockenden via Facebook and a surprise guest at the birthday party hosted for her by the Reverend David Muskett and attended by town mayor Melanie Odell and her consort, councillor David Round, who was one of the children from her Ockenden days.

Friends also gathered to celebrate her landmark birthday at an earlier party organised by her neighbours.

Mr Muskett said: “Elsie said she was almost overwhelmed by the occasion and didn’t know she had so many friends. She began working at the Bank of England during the Second World War before joining the Land Army.

“In peace time, Elsie came to Haslemere only a week after Keffolds opened its doors to refugees from eastern Europe as part of the Ockenden Venture’s efforts to resettle children orphaned by Nazi policies of slave labour.

“Elsie worked in the kitchen and garden during her time there. She described cooking for 70 people as a steep learning curve after being used to cooking only for two.

“Elsie has found relaxation in painting for much of her life and has continued to enjoy her art during a long retirement attending an art group and going on painting holidays with friends.”