A WOMAN appointed MBE for her tireless devotion to charity said she had "a huge fuss made of her" as she celebrated hitting triple figures.
Friends, family and even pupils and the head teacher of Chelmsford County High School for Girls were at Lawns Nursing Home, in Springfield, to wish 100-year-old Phyllis Cass a happy birthday.
Born in Chelmsford on September 29, 1914, the youngest of four girls, Phyllis was educated at the girls' grammar school on Broomfield Road and remains one of their most notable alumni.
Head teacher Nicole Chapman said: "It was a delight to see Phyllis' reaction when she met our students, as she was genuinely interested in talking to them and seemed to have such fond memories of her own school days."
"It was an honour for the school to be able to join in the celebrations."
Just 24 when war broke out over Europe for the second time, Phyllis joined the Women's Royal Naval Service during the conflict, helping bring those injured or at risk on the continent to the UK.
"The things I saw during the war were awful," said Phyllis. "They did, however, make me appreciate everything I had."
Later dedicating herself to the Essex branch of the Red Cross and becoming county secretary, she was awarded the MBE in 1974 for her services to charity.
After her birthday celebrations, where she received a telegram from the Queen, Ms Cass said: "I had a huge fuss made of me all day long. The best thing of all was my delicious birthday cake, which was a fruit cake with a cream layer on top.
"I've been very lucky to have had such a happy life. I went to a lovely school and had a great career.
"And I'll never forget the brilliant friends I made over the years."
Also joining Phyllis, who has never married or had children, at her birthday celebrations were her nephew George Lyall, from Danbury, and his son Malcolm.
He told the Chronicle: "Whenever anybody meets Phyllis, they always tell me about what a great woman she is. She's got a brilliant sense of humour and doesn't ever have a bad word to say about anyone.
"When my son told her that we were celebrating her 100th birthday, she refused to believe him. She's definitely still young at heart."
