VIDEO: Sheffield centenarian Ada Needham flooded with birthday wishes from own family - and dozens of complete strangers

Popular centenarian Ada Needham was flooded with congratulations from relatives at her birthday party - and from dozens of complete strangers.
Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie CaleyAda Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley
Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley

The great-grandmother of six marked the milestone occasion with a party at Richmond Heights Nursing Home in Intake today which was attended by about 20 relatives including some from as far away as France.

And the congratulations didn't end there.

Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie CaleyAda Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley
Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley

For the family took the unusual step of singing happy birthday to her during a Facebook Live broadcast and were flooded with more than 130 messages from well-wishers. Many simply said 'happy birthday' or wished her to have a 'lovely day' while others praise her for 'such an achievement.'

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Ada was presented with a card from The Queen which she described as "marvelous" and enjoyed a piece of cake with her favourite tipple - a Baileys and coffee.

She said: "It's great to see everyone together."

While Ada couldn't put her finger on what the secret to long life is, family members said it was her good diet born out of wartime rationing.

Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie CaleyAda Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley
Ada Needham, pictured with her three sons, Philip, Barry and Frank, celebrating her 100th birthday at Richmond Heights Nursing Home. Picture: Marie Caley

Son Philip, aged 62, who travelled over from France for the party, said: "My mum has always liked her food - good traditional British food.

"She was born in the middle of the First World War and went through rationing during the Second World War. That might have helped her appetite, and she's always eaten healthily.

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"It's great to see all the family together, some of whom we haven't seen for a long time, and it's nice to see my mum enjoying her day."

Born in Sheffield in 1917, Ada worked as a buffer at Reed and Oxley cutlery business in Attercliffe for a number of years.

She married Arthur, an engineer, and they went on to have four sons, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arthur died after a dementia battle aged 86 in 2001.

Ada lived in various places around Sheffield including Pitsmoor, Arbourthorne, Castlebeck and Intake.