Celebrations have taken place at Royal Star & Garter's Surbiton home as the veteran charity marked its 108th birthday. 

Residents at the Surbiton home enjoyed live music and dancing, and ate cake, as they celebrated Royal Star & Garter's anniversary. 

The charity's Director of Care & Wellbeing, Shirley Hall, said: "Over a century after we started, we are still caring for our nation's Armed Forces community, and in the past year we have extended our new services to reach even more veterans." 

The charity was established on 14 January 1916 to care for severely injured men returning from WWI battlegrounds, following concern expressed by Queen Mary. She charged the British Red Cross Society with finding a 'permanent haven' for severely disabled young men returning from war. 

Today, Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia from its three Homes, and has new services reaching out into the community. 

Celebrations at the Homes kicked off on Friday 12 January at Surbiton, with swing singer Ruy Christo coming into the Home to perform for residents, before they enjoyed afternoon tea and sang happy birthday to Royal Star & Garter. 

"I love seeing the homes filled with such happiness and celebration," Ms Hall added. "Staff are always finding ways to create fun and joy, and I think they enjoyed the birthday parties as much as the residents!"