Ester Bentley attended the Juilliard School for music, drama and dance in New York at the tender age of 17 and never looked back, playing the piano for such music greats as Count Basie.

It was a life filled by music that continued yesterday as the Gombeys attended her luncheon to celebrate her 103 years in the world and her only daughter attended the festivities, taking time off from singing in London, England to have lunch with her mom.

Ms. Bentley is a Bermudian, but left for New York for the majority of life after attending the prestigious school of music and remained in the city.

She moved back to Bermuda when she was almost 90 years old and moved into the Packwood Home, Somerset in 2000.

Carole Paynter, nurse manager for Packwood Home, where Ms. Bentley is a resident, said: "She had a wonderful day. We had a lunch for her here, a birthday cake and her daughter was visiting from England."