The “best lady in Mill Lane” joined in with birthday celebrations for The Grove Shopping Centre - 25 years after she was chosen to officially open it.

Molly Beeson, 90, was treated to a ride in a white Rolls Royce before cutting a birthday cake for the Grove on October 26.

Mrs Beeson, who has 15 great grandchildren, 12 grandchildren and four children, officially opened The Grove Centre in 1988 after being nominated by her granddaughter Kelly, who said at the time she was “the best lady in the street.”

Mrs Beeson said: “They really did me proud I didn’t expect it. It was marvellous, they couldn’t have done it better.

“I didn’t know anything about it at all until the week before so I was really taken aback.

“I was surprised as after 25 years you feel you’ve been forgotten, it was really nice to know someone had thought of me.”

She said that opening The Grove Centre in 1988 was “really special”.

“It was a big occasion, there were lots of friends there and I felt very welcome.

“They took me around in a Rolls Royce and there was a big crowd and a marching band.

“It was a wonderful occasion.”