MERCY 'Edie' Byatt celebrated her 100th birthday in December — 40 years after retiring to the Isle of Wight.

She marked her centenary in the company of friends in Wroxall, where she has lived since 1979.

Mercy was born in Leyton, a district of East London, cherishing family trips to the Island as a child.

The youngest of three children, she remained close to her brother and sister until they died.

As a teenager she left school to begin a career at the Caribonum factory — a carbon paper manufacturer — in Leyton, before joining the Royal Air Force from 1942 to 1945, where she assisted at barrage balloon sites.

Her best friend and neighbour, Brenda Gregory, said: "Edie loved her time in the air force, where she was part of a team that used large tethered kite balloons to deter German planes.

"During this time she met her first husband, Tug, who she stayed married to for 12 years."

Mercy returned to the factory after the war, working there until retiring in 1979 to relocate to Wroxall with second husband, George.

The couple enjoyed a happy marriage until his death in 1989.

Mercy is now partially sighted, but used to enjoy reading, cooking, gardening and knitting.

One of her friends and neighbours, Andrew Bailey, said: "Mercy is like my Isle of Wight mother, we shared an instant rapport. She still has a wonderful sense of humour, and can put a smile onto anyone's face. I've never heard her complain or make undue fuss.

"She was such a keen gardener that she used to go out in the morning to tend to her flowers and foliage, and wouldn't finish until it was too dark to continue.

"Mercy, or Edie as her friends call her, has a dear place in the hearts of so many people. Although carers assist her with meals, she remains generally independent and always a pleasure to spend time with."