ELIZABETH Rackham didn’t believe it was her 100th birthday until a card from the Queen arrived in the post.

Mrs Rackham, a former ballet dancer and dress maker, celebrated the milestone yesterday at a party with family and staff and residents at a Colchester residential home.

“She’s the life and soul of the party here,” said Paula Johnston, who manages Scarlett Residential Home, in Recreation Road.

She added: “When I got in on Thursday morning I went up to her and whispered ‘happy 100th birthday’ but she said to me ‘I’m not’ and it was only when we opened the card from the Queen she said ‘it is my birthday’.”

Mrs Rackham, who moved into the home with her husband Leslie in 2008, was born in East London just before the outbreak of war and grew up ballet dancing in Stratford.

Leslie died on New Year’s Day in 2012 and the couple do not have children.

She is, though, often visited by a nephew who lives in Romford.

“Elizabeth is very popular with staff and residents here,” added Mrs Johnston.

“It was a great day and she had about ten members of family up from London and Essex.

“She was exhausted from it, but she enjoyed it so much.”