She has travelled the world, survived the sinking of a ship and lost two dearly-loved husbands.

Writa Johnson, of Warwick, has certainly led no ordinary life. But as she celebrated her 100th birthday, the centenarian was happy to stay at home, surrounded by friends and family.

?I?ve told them all I?m not going anywhere,? she told .

The Island was a very different place when Mrs. Johnson (nee Knight) was born on February 12, 1906, in Middleton Hill, Paget, the eldest of nine siblings.

She recalls a childhood punctuated by long walks with her grandmother from Lower Ferry to the hills and an uncle who brought home a bottle of milk every night.

Her father was Arthur Knight, from Somerset, a pilot at Dockyard and a founder of Somerset Brigade Band. He lived to be 103.

Mrs. Johnson left the Island, aged 16, to work in America as a mother?s help and was on her way back to Bermuda for her honeymoon with her first husband, Al Burton, when the liner they were on sank.

The was struck by another boat, after it left New York on December 18, 1929. The engine room was flooded and everyone on board evacuated.

Mrs. Johnson said: ?It was a foggy day. We all got off the boat and we decided to go to a hotel in Harlem. There is only one thing I can remember about that.

?I let out one loud scream. My husband came running into the room and said ?she?s okay?. And that was it.?

The incident did not deter Mrs. Johnson from further travel. She stayed in the US ? in Newport, Rhode Island ? and eventually moved to New York.

Her first husband died in 1934 of a job-related illness and in 1942 she married Ervin Johnson. The couple had been married for almost 30 years when he passed away.

Mrs. Johnson set up a ladies? cruise club and travelled the globe.

She said: ?I can?t say my life has been dull. Everyone has their problems but I can?t complain.?

The landmark birthday was marked with flowers from Premier Alex Scott. Her brother Harold, 88, her only surviving sibling, travelled to the Island from Virginia with wife Amy to help her celebrate.

Mrs. Johnson, who returned home to Bermuda more than 20 years ago, said the Island had changed dramatically in her lifetime.

?I expected changes in Bermuda but I didn?t expect them to change as much as they have,? she said.

?I don?t see why they have to have the big bikes on the road. Things are not like they used to be but I don?t complain about it. For 100 years old, I?m not doing too bad.?