SHE survived many air raids in her younger years.

But life is far quieter for Lady Zena David these days, living at Tegfield House Care Home in Winchester for the last four years.

On Tuesday, she celebrated her 100th birthday – a milestone that would have seemed almost impossible during the Second World War.

Lady Zena was married to eminent judge Sir Robin David QC.

At the start of the world war she was 18-years-old and undertaking work as a telephonist at the Liverpool Exchange, with nearby shipyards a target for German bombers.

Following the war she worked in the surveyor’s department for McAlpine builders.

She went on to marry and have a daughter and spent many years volunteering, in 1989 the Royal Woman’s Voluntary Service awarded Zena a long service medal for running Meals on Wheels throughout Cheshire for over 20 years.

Lady Zena moved to Winchester upon her husband’s retirement in 1997.

Hampshire Chronicle: Lady Zena David turns 100 at Tegfield House, Winchester

Bianka Seanor, activities coordinator at Tegfield House, Chilbolton Avenue, said: “She ran the Kelsall Parish magazine for a number of years which is particularly funny as she never attended church and was pretty much agnostic. None-the-less each month the vicar came to tea probably because of her feisty conversation.

“These days her capacity to communicate is limited due to loss of sight and hearing so perseverance is needed to get anything out of her.

“But she understands the significance of her birthday and just keeps saying ‘I can’t believe it, I’ve lived so long’.

“For those of us who know her this is completely endearing. I’d just like to reiterate this lady is the personification of joy, love and warmth and it’s a privilege to know her.”