May Perris celebrates her big day with son David and daughter-in-law Ina. Picture: ROB CURRIE (00892664)

ONE of the longest-serving members of the Eastern Good Companions Club celebrated her 100th birthday this week.

May Perris joined the club nearly 40 years ago to play bowls, and she hasn’t looked back since. Although she no longer plays the sport, May, whose actual birthday was last Friday, now uses the club to catch up with her friends.

And it was those friends, along with a number of family members, who got together to mark her special birthday at the club where she has spent so much time. The Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway, and Mrs Ridgway also attended the party to pass on their birthday greetings.

For more than 30 years May and her late husband, Austin ,owned the Cyprus Guest House in Grouville. The couple had three children – David, who has returned from Australia to care for her, Brian, who died as a baby, and the late Dennis.

And May, who stopped driving only eight years ago, had a simple message for younger people about living a long and healthy life: ‘I don’t drink and I don’t smoke,’ she said. ‘I also drink lots of Jersey milk!’