SHE sold some of Southampton’s first bananas after the fruit first arrived in the UK in the 1930s.

Mabel Drake spent much of her childhood helping in her grandmother, Mrs Green’s greengrocers in French Street.

Now the great-great-grandmother-of-10, who has lived in the city all of her life, has just celebrated her 106th birthday.

Born one of four children on July 7, 1909, she has lived through two World Wars and watched as Southampton changed around her.

Brought up by her grandmother in French Street, She attended the newly-built St John’s School, which had gained a reputation for its top facilities including two cast iron baths.

She left the family greengrocers shop to work at the lavish South Western Hotel next to Southampton Docks, known for being the hotel of choice for first-class cruise passengers, including those that boarded the Titanic.

Mabel met her love of her life, Harry, a dockworker, one year her senior while working at the hotel and the couple went on to marry at All Saints Church in 1931.

Their first child, Sylvia was born two years later, in 1933, followed by a second daughter Norma ten years later, who went on to become a well-known Southampton singer, touring city venues in the 1960s.

During the Second World War Harry served with the Royal Engineers before returning to work in the docks, where he was a stevedore.

In their spare time, they would go fishing in the Solent and sell their catch to a fishmonger in East Street.

The couple, who regularly holidayed in Devon, were married for 71 years until Harry’s death in 2001, aged 93.

They lived in houses across the city centre, including in Lower Canal Walk, Kings Street, Jessie Terrace, Bernard Street, sheltered accommodation at Ironside Court, Hamtun Street, and Latham Court in Shirley where Mabel lived for 15 years.

Mabel, who was a keen ballroom dancer, took a number of part-time jobs during her married life, including at Liners Laundry and Cadena Cafe in the city centre. She also worked alongside her daughter Silvia as an ice-cream seller for the Gaumont, now known as the Mayflower Theatre.

The grandmother-of-four and great-grandmother-of-eight celebrated her landmark birthday with family, friends, residents and staff at Tendering Care Home in Totton where she has lived since 2014.

As well as receiving a card from the Queen, Mabel was presented with a This is Your Life-style red book from the home, packed with photos and memories from her past and detailing some of the city’s history she has lived through.