By Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

While most of us dream of putting our feet up when we retire, Helen Radford has only just begrudgingly given up work - the day before her 100th birthday.

The grandmother-of-three has spent the last 18 years as a volunteer at the Cancer Research UK charity shop in Westow Hill, Upper Norwood.

She would spend every Friday helping customers bag their items, pricing products and working on the till.

But because of poor health, the Croydon-born mother-of-two had to give up the role on January 8.

She said: "I'm very proud that I worked until I was 100, not many can say they have done that.

"I will miss serving people and going in every Friday, I've made a lot of friends while I was working there."

The former bank clerk, who lives in South Norwood, has lived in the borough all of her life.

A mezzo-soprano, who performed in the Croydon Light Opera, she vividly remembers Crystal Palace burning down in 1936 and "seeing the whole sky alight, with everyone standing at their front doors to watch."

Mrs Radford also remembers when Croydon was a quiet place to live.

"Everything was delivered by horse and cart, even the milk," she recalled.

"We used to walk everywhere and Sundays were spent at church and in our best clothes.

"There was no electricity, and I have never had a washing machine, we did everything by hand."

Despite her retirement Mrs Radford plans to continue her busy schedule and her daughter, Cynthia, 63, says her "determined" mother won't be slowing down.

She said: "She's very lively and active, if she sets her mind on something she'll go for it.

"Up until last year she was living alone before she had a fall, and now I live with her.

"She hates to be cooped up, so is always doing something.

"A lot of people my mum's age are essentially bed-bound, but she's always out and about.

"She's quite an inspiration."