A FORMER civil servant who has lived in Fulham for a century celebrated her 100th birthday this week.

Evelyn Engelback was born in Haldane Road in 1910 and has never left the borough except to travel - though that did not stop her forging a distinguished career.

She was made an MBE in the 1970s for her long service as the personal assistant of Sir Christopher Cox, the government's overseas secretary, who was notorious for keeping unusual hours and an untidy office.

Before that, she played a key role at the Home Office during the Second World War, dealing with the records of servicemen and women held captive by the Japanese - a top secret task which she has never discussed.

Her husband, George, died in 1962 after 28 years of happy marriage. The pair became childhood sweethearts after meeting at St John's Church in North End Road, where George was a choirboy, and tied the knot in 1934 when Mrs Engelback - born Evelyn Schofield - was 24.

As an intelligent young woman who had won a scholarship to Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green, she was well-placed to serve the country in the coming conflict, although her first job was with an agency which supplied ladies' maids and domestic staff to the local gentry.

The Engelbacks moved to Drive Mansions, Fulham Road, where a firebomb dropped by the Nazis one night nearly destroyed their home, leaving burn marks on the landing which are said to be still visible.

It was there that Mrs Engelback remained until the turn of the millennium, when the 58 steps leading to her front door finally proved too much.

She moved to Swanbank Court, next to the river at Putney Bridge, where she marked her 100th birthday on Tuesday, enjoying a breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast before receiving visits from friends and family.

Except for treatment for a broken pelvis a few years ago and the removal of a rib as a child, she has never been in hospital and continues to live a happy life, looked after by her carer, Dennis.

Mrs Engelback said: "I've kept going. I always eat well and I have people who look after me - they're very kind.

"I haven't lived anywhere else but Fulham.

"I think I'm very lucky altogether."