A care home’s oldest patient has notched up a century — plus two.

Olivette Burch Morris, known as “Aunt Oli” to her nieces, celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends at Lefroy House in Sandys.

The party was planned by her brother, Willard Burch, 94, and his daughter, Betty Ann Burch.

Ms Burch Morris became well known for her talent on the piano, a skill that she picked up from her musical family of seven.

Mr Burch said Ms Burch Morris reached Grade Eight in piano, the highest available grade, and even performed in the Bermuda Philharmonic in the 1960s.

He added: “She could have performed in concerts if she wanted to, but instead she got a degree and decided to teach.

“She was a very good sister to me — I was the baby growing up so she was always around to change my diaper, and even when she was married she’d offer me something to eat whenever I visited.”

Ms Burch, 49, from Smith’s, said piano lessons from her Aunt Oli were strict but effective.

She added: “She was excellent at being a piano teacher and expected perfection from her students.

“If you touched the wrong key and you did it once she’d give you this look, and if you did it a second time she’d tap your finger with her pencil as if to say ‘no, that is wrong’.”

But Ms Burch said the strict approach stopped at the keyboard and that Aunt Oli was a kind and welcoming woman who gave lessons at her home until she retired in 1993.

Mr Burch added that one student was so inspired by her lessons he went on to take a degree in music in Canada.

He said: “She took him from the start and she said he was one of the best pupils she’d ever had.”

Ms Burch Morris no longer plays, but staff and residents at Lefroy House often heard her play well after she moved into the care home in 2013.

One staff member said: “I remember her playing sometimes on the lobby piano. She’s really quite good.”