AT THE age of 100, Phyllis Phipps still has a memory as sharp as any 20-year-old.

And her secret to a long life is simple - a little tipple of brandy every now and then.

The fourth of eight children, she is now the only one left. Born in Oxford in 1907, Phyllis worked at the Oxford Press at the age of 14 to support her "poor mother".

She moved to Chipping Sodbury with her husband and nine years ago she moved to Woodmancote, in Dursley.

Phyllis' ancestors came over to Britain with the Norman Conquest in 1066 and her forefathers were stone masons. Phyllis herself is a freeman of the city of Chester.

At the age of 74 Phyllis went to live in Canada with her son Colin for six months.

A religious woman, Phyllis attends St Mark's Church every week, and in her spare time she reads her way through hundreds of Mills and Boon romance novels.

Although partially deaf, Phyllis' memory is still in tip-top condition. She can remember being a bridesmaid at the age of three and telling the vicar her name was Pillarbox because she could not pronounce Phyllis.

On her 95th birthday, Phyllis had her first glider flight and was hoping for another this year, but the weather prevented the flight.

Phyllis enjoyed a family party on Tuesday and a small gathering of friends and neighbours at her house on Wednesday.

Katherine Phipps, Phyllis' daughter-in-law, said: "She has such a young attitude and has an excellent memory. She likes to keep up to date with what is going on in the news.

"She was absolutely thrilled with the telegram from the Queen."

When asked what the secret to living to the age of 100 was, Phyllis replied: "I have absolutely no idea. It might be down to the odd tipple of brandy."