SHE was born in the year the Titanic sank during her maiden voyage and Scott’s expedition to the South Pole also ended in disaster.

Now one of Hampshire’s oldest residents, Phyllis Oriel, has celebrated her 105th birthday at the care home where one of her great grandchildren works.

Phyllis was born in Brixton, south London, and became a factory worker in Fleet Street at the age of 18.

One day she was caught sneaking into the office to practice her typing skills – but instead of being told off was offered a job in the typing pool.

It was there that she met her future husband Tom. They were married in 1934 and went on to have two children: Ron and Rita.

During the Second World War the couple endured the daily threat of doodlebugs – flying bombs that plummeted to the ground when their engine cut out.

At one stage more than 100 of the deadly devices were fired at London and the south east per day.

Her family said: “Phyllis has vivid memories of hearing doodlebugs and then the awful silence, which meant the bombs were about to drop.

“She and her family would run into the air-raid shelter, sometimes spending two or three days there when the bombing was heavy.”

After their house was bombed Phyllis and her children went to live in Sussex. Tom remained in London, where he was serving as a firefighter.

The couple eventually moved to Dibden Purlieu to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

Widowed about 15 years ago, Phyllis now lives at the Forest Edge care home in Cadnam, where her great grand-daughter, Emily Harris, is one of the care assistants.

Her family said: “Phyllis has always had a great sense of humour.

“She used to host family parties and would often provide the entertainment by singing and playing the piano. Whenever she feels sad or upset she starts to sing, which cheers her up.”

Phyllis has three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and has recently become a great-great-grandmother following the birth of Alfie Harris, the latest addition to the family.