A NAVY veteran has celebrated her 103rd birthday.
Janet Patterson was treated to a special lunch with her children Gill and David, granddaughter and other family at the Royal Star and Garter in Solihull, where she now lives.
They also brought birthday cakes for other residents and staff to enjoy.
Janet was born near Stratford-upon-Avon in 1923.
She joined the WRNS in 1942, and was a film operator, working on projectors which showed key educational and instructional films to new Naval recruits as part of their training.
She met Dennis, who was also serving in the Navy, at HMS Glendower in Pwllheli, Wales, and the couple married in 1944. Janet demobbed the following year.
Now a great-grandmother, she said: “Spending time with my family is the best way I can celebrate my birthday.”
The centenarian made headlines around the country when she received her War Medal 1939 to 45 in recognition of her service in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) during the Second World War.
Her son and daughter applied for it on her behalf, 80 years after the war ended, and 80 years after she left the Armed Forces.
Her story was covered in national press and she received letters from as far afield as USA, thanking her for her service.
Janet has been a resident at Royal Star at Garter, which cares for veterans and their loved ones living with disability or dementia, since 2023.
