THE man himself may not have been able to attend her special party, but Doris Lunn was more than happy to celebrate her 100th birthday with a David Beckham lookalike.

Staff at The Abbey care home in Old Malton arranged for Wayne Flynn, who lives in Scarborough, to step in for the famous footballer and present Doris with a bouquet of flowers to mark the big day.

Ann Race, from the home, said Doris had been delighted with her surprise guest. She said: “Doris was lost for words and she and everyone at the home had an amazing time.”

Doris, nee Clarkson, was born on April 10, 1915, the youngest of four children and lived in Thornthorpe.

She attended Burythorpe School and at the age of 15 was offered the position of pupil-teacher at the school, where she remained until she married Fred Lunn at the age of 21.

Bringing up a family of three boys took up most of her time but she was able to spend her limited leisure time with needlework and knitting. In 1970, she separated from her husband and sailed to Australia to see her cousin, Betty Kitching, who had been her best friend of many years.

Doris’ son, David, said she spent two eventful years in Sydney finding herself several jobs while there, as well as travelling extensively with Betty and her husband Digby. She returned to England, by way of ship, via the Panama Canal and in doing so circumnavigated the world.

He said: “On her return to England she rented a house in Norton for a short time until purchasing her much-loved home and garden in Scarborough Road. She became a founding member of the Malton branch of the Yorkshire Women’s Association and held the position of entertainments secretary for years.

“Nan, as she is known by family and friends, settled into a job at McKechnies in Stamford Bridge, and made many life-long friends.

“She has travelled to many holiday destinations in Europe. She also arranged trips to TV studios, Countdown being a favourite. She became well known to most of the celebrities who would ask, ‘Do we have Doris in the audience tonight?’”

David said Doris, who has seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, had remained in her own home until three and half years ago, when, after a fall, she moved into The Abbey, where she is a much-loved and admired resident.