BEING active has proved to be the secret of achieving afulfilling life for long-time Fareham resident Helen Poor.

The 100-year-old marked her birthday with relatives at a special celebration attended by Fareham mayor Councillor Lt-Cdr Leslie Keeble and his wife and mayoress Christine.

Helen, who has lived in Fareham for almost 70 years, played an active role in Fareham's Townswomen's Guild and Inner Wheel Club to keep herself young all these years and also enjoyed a game of bridge. Having been born in West Sussex she moved to Portsmouth at the age of ten before travelling to Bermuda in her mid-twenties to enjoy married life.

Three years later she came back to Fareham to raise her two daughters and hasn't left since.

To mark her special day, Helen's daughters, Brenda Gudgeon and Marian Jones, who came over from Bermuda were there to help celebrate along with Helen's granddaughters, Trudy and Karyn.

Councillor Keeble also presented the centenarian with a bouquet and a birthday card from the Queen at the birthday party at Merry Hall residential home in Kiln Road where she lives.

He said: "It is a pleasure to be able to celebrate a very special occasion with a lady who has lived in Fareham for nearly 70 years."