A FORMER teacher who lived in Jerusalem and Africa before settling in Oxford more than 30 years ago has celebrated her 100th birthday.

History graduate Ida McClellan was born in Clapham, south London, and began her working life as a primary school teacher.

During the 1930s she moved to Jerusalem with her first husband Michael Bryant who worked for an electricity company in the city.

She later lived in Sudan, Zambia and Malawi for about 20 years with her second husband, colonial civil servant Nigel McClellan, before returning home to Peasemore, Berkshire.

The couple moved again, to Bardwell Road, North Oxford, in 1979.

Mrs McClellan often helped children learn to read at St Aloysius’ Primary School, in Woodstock Road.

Later in life the mother-of-four moved to Bladon Close, nearer to her son Peter Bryant, before moving to the Beaumont Care Home in Boars Hill last year.

On Monday, carers sang Happy Birthday and Amy Dalwood, the home’s activities organiser, presented her with a cake.

Her son Peter Bryant said: “She was absolutely determined to get to 100. She is pretty impressed herself and I think it’s pretty something. She never seemed particularly physically robust but she has turned out to be a real survivor.” Picture: Jon Lewis