A GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER is set to celebrate her 105th birthday next month.

Ivy Kingswell will be celebrating her 105th birthday on December 21 at Cams Ridge Nursing Home, Fareham.

The family are now appealing to the community in the hope of sending her 105 birthday cards to celebrate.

Great-granddaughter Ashleigh Rhys is organising the appeal.

The 42-year-old was worried she would not be able to visit Nan Ivy due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ashleigh said: "Thankfully she has recovered, we thought we might not be able visit, how can we make her birthday special?

"I came up with the idea that she's 105 so let's try and get her 105 cards from people."

Born in 1915, she grew up on a farm in Bridgemary. She has lived through both war worlds where she took on various roles in the war efforts including being a Norland nanny.

She lived in her Fareham home for 53 years before moving to Cams Ridge home where she has been for the last eight years.

Ashleigh said that her great Nan Ivy has found the lockdown difficult.

She added: "We want to brighten the day up for her. Since the home went into lockdown with coronavirus, she has deteriorated because she has not been able to see us all the time.

"Not many people get to 105, not many people catch coronavirus at that age and survive.

"To brighten it up for not only her but the staff in the home as well.

"She's a very social person and not having other visitors that would always stop and talk to her, she has deteriorated.

"It would be amazing to just put a smile on her face, at that age, to celebrate. I'm so fortunate that she is still around.

"Hopefully people will take their time to send her a card - it will mean so much."

"Any support is brilliant - the staff will get excited if cards start turning up.

Cards should be sent to: Ivy Kingswell at Cams Ridge Nursing Home, 7 Charlemont Dr, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8RT, UK.