CONGRATULATIONS from the Queen arrived just in time for a special celebration to mark a truly remarkable lady from Bedworth.
At 108 years young Lil Brandist is thought to be Bedworth's oldest resident and family and friends gathered around for a party.
However there was a little mini drama at the celebration, held yesterday at her home at Collyhurst Care Home, when a card from Her Majesty The Queen failed to materialise.
Fortunately, at just after 12.30pm - just as the impressive looking cake from Bedworth Cake Shop was being taken out of its box and the Nuneaton News arrived, the royal message landed on the doormat, alongside another from Iain Duncan Smith on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions wishing her many happy returns.
In the Queen's card, upon which was a photograph of the monarch dressed in a wonderful green outfit, it offered Lil her 'best wishes' and the country's ruler commented that to reach 108 was 'a remarkable achievement'.
When asked what the key to such a long life was, Lil, whose real name is Frances, said: "Plenty of hard work."
And hard work is something that Lil is certainly not afraid of.
She was a former postwoman for 19 years and, back when she was more mobile, tended to two full allotment sites on her own.
In fact one of her two sons Tom explained that his mum had missed out on a pension by just a few weeks, as she was forced to stop due to ill health as arthritis in the shoulder made it too hard to carry the mail such long distances.
"Royal Mail were just about to introduce pensions for the very first time when her arthritis got bad and her boss said to just stay on the sick until that came in, but she sadly stopped," said Tom, who was among those at the party alongside his wife Linda, his brother Reg and sister-in-law Judith. Their sister Maggie could not be there as she lives in Australia, but she phoned up in the morning to send her regards.
Lil has an extensive family consisting of six children, 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and seven great, great grandchildren at the last count.
Mrs Brandist, whose maiden name was Morson, was born on July 9, 1907 in Longford - back when Edward VII was on the throne, but she has spent most of her life living in Bedworth.
She worked at the old Courtaulds factory, in Coventry, before changing career and working as a post woman in Bedworth.
Her late husband Henry Brandist was a painter and decorator and she lived with him in Marston Lane before moving to Conifer Court and then to Collyhurst Care Home when she became 105.
Everyone at the home in Nuneaton Road, loves Lil to bits.
Activity co-ordinator Boo Robb said: "She is an absolutely lovely lady and a pleasure to look after - in fact it's an honour."
Assistant manager Debbie Taylor added: "She's marvellous, so sharp and with a great sense of humour."
For Lily's party, a singer was booked. He had been due to perform at a home in Hinckley, but when they found out about Lily's birthday they let her have him to ensure the do went with a swing.
but with nearly half an hour to spare 
