EVEN at 100 years old Mary Thickett is managing to live life to the full and spends her time making friends and family laugh - alongside a good amount of knitting.

Countless people flocked to visit the independent centenarian last Friday to share their birthday wishes and reflect on the incredible experiences they’ve shared.

And even at this age, the Wombwell-based woman remains almost entirely independent, apart from her mobility frame which is described as her ‘third leg’.

The secret to this long and healthy life, according to Mary, is ‘keeping active’.

“I’ve always liked company,” she told the Chronicle.

“I used to live with my mother-in-law and to get out of her way I would have something marked every day.

“Making hats, trousers for my husband because you couldn’t get them in the war - all sorts of things I’ve done.

“It’s keeping busy - I’m always, always busy.”

Mary spent 60 years with her husband Irvin - prior to his death about a decade ago - and still holds onto the love letters he wrote for her when they first met.

Throughout those years, the pair had a lot of fun and went around exploring the world.

“We had a lot of good times,” she added.

“I’m saying this but I’m not bragging, but we went to Russia twice - we went all over.”