SPRIGHTLY Sybil Lummis is today celebrating her 105th birthday and says her spinster's lifestyle has kept her in good health.Having lived through two turns of the century, she is still extremely an independent character and lives alone in Silent Street, Ipswich, and only has meals on wheels once a week.

SPRIGHTLY Sybil Lummis is today celebrating her 105th birthday and says her spinster's lifestyle has kept her in good health.

Having lived through two turns of the century, she is still extremely an independent character and lives alone in Silent Street, Ipswich, and only has meals on wheels once a week.

As a special birthday treat today she allowed herself a drop of brandy in her morning cup of tea, although she insists she is not a huge drinker.

As she celebrated today she said: "I've been very fortunate in that I have enjoyed good health. It has been a real blessing.

"I've enjoyed a spinsters life and have therefore had no worries – that's the secret to my long life."

Born in Coddenham in 1896, she was the youngest of seven children for parents Louisa and George. She attended the village school until the age of 14, then travelled to Chelsea, London, to work as a nanny for two years. During her time in the city she also worked for a dictaphone company.

Ms Lummis returned to Coddenham in 1926 to look after her mother and then later worked at Blue Circle Cement in Claydon as a dispatcher until she retired in 1958.

Age has not stopped her going out for drives in the country to see wild flowers, and she still loves to visit friends around the area.

She also enjoys reading and writing but admits she spends most of her day sleeping.

Surrounded by dozens of cards from well-wishers today she said: "I got lots of lovely cards and a lovely one from the Queen."

"I am being rather spoilt by everybody and I am very much looking forward to my party later today."

Other residents from the warden-controlled complex had organised a party for their oldest neighbour.

Ms Lummis does not believe she is the eldest person in Suffolk but feels confident that she will see another birthday.

Panel

When Sybil Lummis was born in 1898:

People were starting to emigrate to the Americas.

The world speed record was set by an electric car at 39mph.

Radium was discovered.

William Gladstone died

A year later the first tape recorder was invented and the Boer War began

Three years later the Trans Siberian railway opened, and Queen Victoria died aged 82.