THE events of the early 1900s make an intriguing history lesson for today's young.

But for Ruth Peterson it doesn't seem two minutes since China abolished slavery in 1910, the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912 and Britain declared war on Germany in 1914.

"The time's just flown by," said Ruth, who celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday.

"I've forgotten a few things over the years but you never forget the wars. You'd know why if you'd lived through them."

Ruth was born in Liverpool in 1902, just 18 days after King Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria, was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

"There have been a few kings and queens in my time," said Ruth, who has seen five accessions and one abdication of the British throne.

On Thursday the mother of one and great-grandma recalled her happy childhood in a small house in Liverpool, where she grew up with her sister and four brothers. "I loved staying at home to do the washing and cleaning with my mum," she said. "I never worked. I've always looked after the home. It made me happy."

She met her husband William in Rostherne while visiting his sister, who worked as a district nurse in the village.

In 1929 they married and lived in a farm before moving to Bucklow Hill, while waiting for their Knutsford home in Acacia Avenue to be built.

"Rostherne, Bucklow Hill, Knutsford, they were all a bit quiet for me," she said. "I liked the atmosphere in Liverpool. There was a bit of noise. I was a town girl and I liked it that way."

But she got used to the Knutsford way of life, living in Acacia Avenue until last November when she moved to Leicester House aged 99.

Yesterday her family and friends gathered at the Mobberley residential home for a birthday party.

"I think they should warn the fire brigade if they're putting 100 candles on my cake," she said on Thursday.

mgillies@guardiangrp.co.uk