A GREAT-grandmother whose faith has always played a part in her life celebrated turning 100 with friends, family and a card from the Queen.

Margaret Joyce Rodda – known as Joy – celebrated her milestone birthday on May 12 with 75 people at Melyd Hall, Meliden.

Joy, who has lived in Prestatyn since 2005, became the youngest ward sister at Plymouth Hospital when she was just 21.

The mum-of-three, who has seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was born in Scorrier, Cornwall.

Her father, Ernest, and mother, Fanny, were farmers and Joy spent the first 17 years of her life living on the farm with her six siblings.

The Rodda family became well-known for producing Clotted Cream and provided it for many Royal weddings and events, as well as exporting across the world.

Daughter Jean Cartwright said: “At the age of 17, mum left home to follow in her mother’s footsteps and train as a nurse in Plymouth.

“During the Second World War she became the night sister-in-charge of the whole hospital and was able to help many causalities during the blitz raids on Plymouth.”

After the war, Joy moved to Ashton-Under-Lyne, where she met Alan Burden, a Bible college student who was preaching at her local church.

They married in March 1952 and moved to Bath where Alan was to serve as a minister.

Their children Jean, Ann and John were born in the years that followed and in 1956 the couple moved to South London.

In 1956, the couple moved to Mitcham Baptist Church, South London and their son John was born 1958.

But in 1972 Alan died aged just 50, leaving Joy with three teenage children.

Jean said: “Mum followed me to Exmouth, Maidstone, Mold, Flint and finally to Prestatyn, where she has lived since 2005.

“My mum is friendly and kind person, who never has a bad word to say about anybody.

“She did not want to be 100 at first, but when she actually turned 100, she was happy and she is well up for it now, enjoying it.

“Throughout her life, her faith has been very important to her and has resulted in many long-term friendships.

“She has always been very active in church life as the minister’s wife or as a member of the church community.”

“She is surrounded by friends and I think that is because how she is. She is very interested in people.”