100 children visit former Guides leader on her 100th

A hundred Girl Guides and Brownies crammed into a Midland nursing home to sing to their former leader on her 100th birthday.

Elizabeth Mills joined the Guides when she was 10 and later became president of the Worcestershire Girl Guides, as well as County Commissioner.

She was also twice mayor of Stourport – in 1982 and 1992 – and chairman of Wyre Forest District Council from 1979 to 1980, as well as the first person to be given the title life president of Wyre Forest Conservative Association.

Mrs Mills, who was born in Derbyshire and later grew up in the Hednesford area before moving to Stourport with her late husband Leslie,in 1956, was also an honorary member of Worcestershire County Council and won the MBE in 1981 for services to the local community. She is so well known and respected that she even has a day centre – the former Stourport Social Day Centre for over 55s – named after her.

Girls aged seven to 14 from the Stourport and Areley Kings Guides units descended on Sanctuary Care's Ravenhurst Care Home in Lickhill Road North, Stourport, where Mrs Mills now lives, on Saturday to sing "happy birthday" to her. Helen Winter, leader of Areley Kings Guides, said: "Mrs Mills has done so much for our organisation.

"She founded the 3rd Stourport Guides and was instrumental in buying the land and setting up the Worcestershire Guides' camp at Hanley Swan, near Malvern."

Mrs Mills laughed when she said her secret to reaching such a fantastic age was "a small glass of whisky".

She added: "I feel wonderful about reaching 100 and have enjoyed helping others.

"I loved being in the Girl Guides and have had great fun meeting people from so many different backgrounds.

"It's the camaraderie of the guides that is so lovely, gathering together and finding something a bit different or new to do." Looking back, Mrs Mills, formerly of Areley Kings, said: "I remember the war was tough but they were still the good old days."

Tina Sanders, activity coordinator at Ravenhurst, said: "When all the girl guides and brownies arrived on Saturday, we couldn't get half of them in and had to put some of them in the courtyard and take Elizabeth out to them. It was brilliant – and we're still helping her to open some of the hundreds of birthday cards she received."

Mrs Mills was also joined in her celebrations by her son Steven and three grandsons Andrew, Stuart and Peter, and Stourport's mayor David Little.