FORMER schoolteacher Olive Rudlin says there is no secret to reaching 100 years.

But then, not smoking, not drinking, not eating meat and having a deep faith probably counts in reaching a ripe old age.

On top of that she had a poor childhood in East Ham, London, and she reckons that, plus a loving family, stood her in good stead. She has only been into hospital twice in her life, to give birth to her two sons, Douglas and Malcolm.

Today, she will be surrounded by family and friends at a party to celebrate her centenary in her home village of Stonesfield. Some are coming from Finland and Germany, others from distant parts of this country, to join her in the village hall.

"All my life I have dealt with children, and that keeps you on the go," she said. "I know there are now more people living to 100, but if you ask me I don't think there's any kind of secret to it."

She was born on November 15, 1907, and is one of five children. Her eldest brother Arthur died two years ago at the age of 102, while another brother, Wilfred, is now 95, and her younger sister Viv 91.

"We were very poor and ate sparingly, mum stitched all our shirts. We had a lot to thank our parents for and we all went to Grammar School. Sundays was always at the chapel," she recalled.

She met her late husband Gordon, who died two years ago at the age of 97, when they were teenagers. After retiring as a teacher, she kept active and set up the first playschool in the area at Stonesfield in 1967. Her husband was a financial officer for Oxfam in Oxford for 13 years.

A life-long Methodist, Mrs Rudlin still attends chapel in Stonesfield. She added: "I think you have to have a spiritual background, I am helped by it every day."