A SPECIAL lady was reunited with an old friend when she celebrated her 100th birthday.

Iris Yates was delighted when Sir John Madejski attended the party at Parkside Nursing Home on September 28.

The pair previously met 10 years ago when the centenarian was invited to a Reading FC match for her 90th birthday.

Friends and family came from far and wide to mark Ms Yates' important day, which was made complete by a card from The Queen.

Originally born in Oxfordshire, she moved to Reading at the age of 12 and attended football matches with her sisters.

Her daughter, Marilyn Lord, said: "She has enjoyed football all her life and she still follows the scores every Saturday."

When asked what the secret to her long life was, her daughter added: "No drink. She has always eaten healthily.

"It was only recently that she started to have problems with her lower body.

"She is in a wheelchair now, but she always kept active, even as she started to get older.

"She also likes to do crosswords and watch quiz shows on the television to keep her brain active."

On her 90th birthday, she received a signed photograph from the football team she has loyally supported throughout her life.

Her husband, Charles Yates, sadly died 17 years ago, but the couple managed to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, which saw another letter from The Queen.

The family were also saddened at the passing of Ms Yates' only other child, Alan, who died aged 75 last year.

Mrs Lord added: "We were so pleased to be able to give her a party to remember.

"Everyone at the care home was wonderful and the chef even came in specially to get all the food ready, even though it was his day off."