A Norwich woman who devoted much of her life to nursing and voluntary work in the city has celebrated reaching the grand old age of 100.

Annie Hunt, who lives at the Great Hospital in Bishopgate, turned 100 on April 13.

Mrs Hunt's son, John Hunt, 75, from Bramerton, described his mother as a quietly determined woman and said he was proud to see her reach her 100th birthday.

Throughout her nursing career Mrs Hunt worked at a number of hospitals across Norfolk and ended up being the nursing director of St Andrews Hospital in Thorpe St Andrew.

She was also a mother figure for many young nurses who came from abroad to work in the city in her role as a warden in charge of the nurses accomodation next to the Griffin Pub in Thorpe St Andrew.

Among them was Adeline Lam-Kee, known as Gaby, from the Philippines, who has stayed in touch with Mrs Hunt.

Mrs Lam-Kee, now 65 and living in Birmingham, said: 'Annie is a very, very good friend and a very dear lady.

'She looked after me when I first came to this country.

'She was like a mother to all of us.

'She was a very strict warden and we learnt a lot from her.'

Mrs Hunt, who was born in Adelaide Street, first started work as a nurse at St Andrews Hospital when she was 18 and then went to work as a nurse in Great Yarmouth and Pulham Market.

During the Second World War, she was a housekeeper for the Rev Shed at Weston Longville and later the canteen manager for Laurence Scott Electromotors in Norwich.

After the war she worked for Curls and Bonds before becoming matron of a children's home in Turner Road. She then became the nursing director of St Andrews Hospital and the nurses accomodation warden.

Mrs Hunt also did a lot of voluntary work throughout Norwich for many years – both for Meals on Wheels and for the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital shop.

Mrs Hunt has three grandchildren, James, 30, John, 33, and Robin, 47.

She also has two great-grandchildren Jamie, five, and Isabelle, two.

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Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk