HAMPSHIRE'S oldest living person, Annie Rideout, has celebrated her 109th birthday surrounded by family and friends.

When she was born in 1907, King Edward VIII was on the throne, Robert Baden-Powell took the Scouts to Brownsea Island for their first camp, Britain had yet to go through two world wars and a loaf of bread cost two and a half pence.

Mrs Rideout entered the world in the same year that British actor Laurence Olivier and Hollywood stars John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn were born along with authors Daphne Du Maurier and Tintin creator Herge.

The great-great-grandmother from New Milton has outlived them all.

Annie admitted she felt like she was in her teens again when she celebrated turning another year older.

A big band concert was held in her honour to round off a series of events for her 108th birthday.

The jazz enthusiast would have turned 18 just as jazz greats Louis Armstrong and George Gershwin were gaining popularity.

More than 90 years later Annie arrived at the town’s Memorial Centre with pink flowers attached to her dress and wearing a black scarf with golden music notes on it – given as one of her many presents.

Performers included Todd Miller and the Joe Loss Orchestra – one of the country’s longest running bands – who are close to her heart because she dated one of the former members in her late teens.

The mum of six, who has 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, was joined by many of her family, friends and neighbours. They admired her telegram from The Queen – the fifth she has received.

Annie, who was a keen dancer in her youth, said: “I’ve enjoyed tonight very much.

“I really like the music as it has a nice swing to it and it makes me feel young again.

“I used to love the dance halls in Weymouth.”

Friday’s event followed a garden party held to mark the big day on Tuesday and a family garden party the previous Sunday.

Annie was born in Brockenhurst and spent time living in Portland.

She wed husband Gideon when she was 21 and they were married for 70 years until he died in the 1990s aged 92.

During the War she ran a boarding house in Portland where many naval and American personnel stayed and she often rode to work on a motorbike.

When asked her secret to longevity she said: “I have always had something to do. I haven’t had time to be bored.”

Her eldest daughter Rosemary Allsopp, 72, who lives in Spain, but returns often to care for her mother, said: “Reaching 108 is quite something and to celebrate it and be reasonable healthy is very good.”

Her eldest son David, 76, father of former Saints and Everton footballer Paul Rideout, said: “The amount of cards she has received has been unbelievable. There have been a lot of plants and flowers and things that she can keep as mementos.”