Evelyn, 103, shares a slice of birthday triple cake

Evelyn Alexander, now 103, who lives at the Bupa Regency Court care home, in South Terrace, shared her birthday with fellow resident Jessica Marsden, 44, and carer Leanne Hickey, 20, on Thursday.

All three were born on May 22.

Janet Gordon, of the care home, said: “This is the first time we have ever had three birthdays on one day.

“I think this is really pretty rare. It’s been such a special day.”

Evelyn, who was born in Darlington in 1911, has lived through the reign of four monarchs.

During her youth, she trained as a district nurse in Darlington before becoming a matron at a cottage hospital.

She married when she was 40, becoming a step-mother to four children, before moving to Littlehampton about 20 years ago.

She is affectionately know as ‘Granny’ by staff and still reads her daily newspaper.

Jessica was a former a carer at the home where she met her now ex-husband Lee. She has a son and daughter. Leanne, the third birthday girl, has worked at Regency Court for about a year.