Even at the age of 100, Alresford's Eddie McLeod is the life and soul of the party.

With his ready wit, sense of humour and zest for life, he takes a keen interest in the world around him.

He and his wife, Joyce - a mere 93 - thoroughly enjoyed a large gathering of family and friends at the Swan Hotel, Alresford, on Saturday to mark his centenary three days earlier.

The couple, who live at Meadow Close, have two sons - Ian, who, at present, lives with them, and Donald, who lives in Holland - three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Eddie, who has had several hip replacement operations, has not let failing health slow him down.

He gave up driving his car when he was 95, but continues to drive his motorised scooter, going into Winchester on Dial-a-Ride to do the family shopping as Joyce is confined to a wheelchair.

Born in Cork, Eddie was 16 when he and his family fled the Rebellion and moved to England, where he had been educated at boarding school.

He became apprenticed as an engineer but then went back to Ireland to work for Ford on the Model T. Eddie has a phenomenal memory and vividly recalls working on the old "Tin Lizzie" production line.

When Ford transferred to Dagenham, he moved with them, but he went to work for Plessey during the war.

He talks of the underground factory at Ilford where they carried out essential government work on radar installation.

He remembers being blitzed during the war and having to move into a bungalow for six weeks. On his retirement, the couple moved to Alresford.

Eddie and Joyce have been married for 67 years and their great interest throughout has been music.

With a wife as an accomplished professional violinist, Eddie's forte was singing.

He has sung in many amateur musical productions, such as The White Horse Inn, Brigadoon and Rose Marie and he is a former member of the Winchester Music Club Choir.

He was a founder member of the Alresford branch of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research and received a gold medal for collecting coin boxes.

Before failing health curtailed their activities, Eddie and Joyce were regular attenders at St John's Church, Alresford. They now have Communion brought to them in their home.

Always a keen winemaker, having won the Alresford Wine Trophy at the annual agricultural show, Eddie still makes his own, although he says he only "supervises" now, leaving the work to Joyce and Ian.