Alice has a zest for life — at 104!

PARTY time . . . Alice with friends Joan Chadderton (left) and Anna Biczo

FULL-of-life Alice Chesher celebrated her 104th birthday yesterday surrounded by close friends.

Alice was showered with flowers and cards before her big party at the Dryclough Manor Residential Home, in Shaw Road, Oldham.

Mrs Chesher, puts her long life down to hard work.

And about her birthday bash, she said: “It is very nice. I have lots of good friends and if I didn’t have them I would have become very low.

“I have relatives, but they live too far away.”

Mrs Chesher worked at the Manor Mill, Chadderton, for five years before moving to Willowbank Mill, Chadderton, where she spent 25 years.

She was married but became a widow at the age of 48. She lived in Burnley Lane, Chadderton, for most of her life before moving to Dryclough. She has no children.

Mrs Chesher spent most of her life looking after her mother, Mary Anne Needham, who lived until she was 102.

Dryclough Manor’s assistant manager, Debra Goddard, said: “For a woman of her age she is still quite independent.”