Centenarian and artist Grace Ulricks was very much the star of the show when her landmark birthday was celebrated with an exhibition of her pictures in Kingsteignton.

It was her desire that funds raised from the event at the United Reformed Church Hall, on Monday, should be presented to Rowcroft Hospice.

She was thrilled that the ‘one woman show’ – organised by her local art group Friends Through Art – raised £185.45 for such a deserving cause.

Group spokesman Wendy Sanders said after the brush with history: ‘She had such a wonderful time. She’d like to do it again!’

The special day featured the traditional birthday bash fun… including cake-cutting, blowing out of candles, family visits, toasts to her health, a few hip-hip-hoorays and renditions of ‘she’s a jolly good fellow.’

But it was the opening of the card from the Queen which got to her.

‘Up till then she’d had a contented smile on her face – but the emotion really showed when she opened the card,’ explained Wendy.

The post from Buckingham Palace was a bit of a surprise as one of her nieces had been at her home when she was able to take delivery from the postman and sign for it before rushing the precious royal birthday greeting over to the celebrations.

‘It really was a wonderful day for an equally wonderful lady,’ said Wendy.