Connie reaches new milestone

SHE might be celebrating her 107th birthday, but Connie Stebbings still has as much flair for fashion and beauty as she ever did.

Before attending her birthday bash, the sprightly centenarian scheduled in an appointment with her stylist for a new hairdo and could not contain her delight at wearing a new red dress.

She even had a giggle after spotting the clash of colours from her brown tights, blue slippers and red flowery frock.

"I'm in brown stockings, with red, white and blue," she chuckled.

Despite living through ten decades and two world wars, Connie is still as alert as ever and has not lost any of her wit.

Believed to be one of the oldest people in the country, Connie celebrated her 107th milestone at a special birthday party with her friends and family in Monmouth Court in Ipswich, where she is a resident.

Born on August 17, 1897 in Wenham, Connie was the eldest of six children, whom she helped bring up, and managed to outlive all her five siblings.

Connie, who used to live in Nayland Nursing Home, Nayland, married her husband Herbert in 1925.

She spent most of her life in Copdock, where she and her late husband kept a smallholding.

Over the years, Connie spent most of the time looking after the two-acre plot, while her husband ran his business as the local wheelwright and carpenter elsewhere in the community.

The couple had two children but both died at young ages, Edna aged seven and John aged 35.

Herbert passed away in 1964 meaning she has spent nearly 40 years as a widow.

Connie's niece Iris Barrell believes the secret to her aunt's long life is hard work, plain food and no alcohol.

"She has had a very hard life but she's a strong character. She was the eldest in her family and helped bring up her brothers and sisters and has survived them all," she said.

"She looked after two evacuees during the Second World War. Her aunt lived with her until she was 96 and we thought she had done very well.

"Connie has had good health all her life, she really has."