A former carer who celebrated her 100th birthday this week says she is still a “free spirit” at heart.

Dancing and laughing the day away, centenarian Joyce Hixon marked her birthday with family and friends at Milmans Resource Centre, in Grove Avenue, Pinner, on Tuesday April 11.

The Jamaican High Commissioner, Seth George Ramocan also surprised her with a visit.

Born in Jamaica, Joyce came to the UK in 1964 with her grandmother, parents and two younger siblings.

Even at the age of 100, she says she lives life as a Caribbean “free spirit” and doesn’t look a day over 70.

When asked the million dollar question about what is the secret of living a long and healthy life, Joyce laughed and pointed to the sky.

She said: “Everyone wants to know the secret - I tell them it’s that man up there, with the grace of God.

“I just tried to do good and obeyed my parents”.

She admitted she still has a lot of hobbies and talked animatedly of her love for music and reading.

Some of her fondest childhood memories also included playing with her siblings at home, which she “enjoyed and remembers a lot”.

During Joyce’s earlier years, she used to work at three local hospitals including, Edgware as a domestic worker before furthering her career as a carer for the elderly.

Joyce currently lives in Ewart House, in Richards Close, Harrow, which provides extra care housing accommodation.

She has visited Milmans three times a week for the past 14 years, without missing a day and is “very much loved” by the team.