A TENNIS loving great grandmother sipped Champagne as she celebrated turning 102 surrounded by her family and friends in Mudeford.

Audrey Dormon, who was born in London shortly before the outbreak of the Great War, was the first resident at Colten Care's Avon Reach home 22 years ago.

To mark her birthday she was joined by daughter Ann, great grandson Henry Comyn and a host of staff and residents.

Asked for the secret of her longevity, Audrey said: “Tennis, lots of sun and Audrey's Mixture!”

Henry, 23, who affectionately refers to his great grandmother as ‘GG’, explained: “Each day GG drinks something the staff here now call ‘Audrey’s Mixture’ - a combination of sweet sherry and cranberry, which she swears by.

“She has had a fantastically exciting life and has a great sense of humour.”

Audrey, one of five children, was born in the same year, 1913, as suffragette Emily Davison was crushed beneath reigning monarch King George V’s horse at the Derby.

She went on to excel at sport, particularly tennis, golf and skiing. And it was through these hobbies she met husband Graham at the age of 14.

The couple, who married in 1937, were together for 49 years until Graham passed away in 1986.

After the Second World War, Audrey travelled extensively in Africa due to her husband's work as an engineer with Kenya Railways.

In 1981, she and daughter Ann won the Ladies’ Tennis Doubles Cup at the famous Kampala Club.

Unfortunately it was to be Audrey’s tennis ‘swansong’, as painful arthritis put paid to her playing.

In 1962, after 16 years in Africa, Audrey and Graham returned to England where they retired and set up home in Highcliffe.

Audrey has two grandchildren, Tony and Jackie, and as well as Henry, two other great grandchildren, Sophie and Lucy.

Avon Reach's manager, Angela Bennett, said: “Audrey is a joy to look after. Everyone adores her and it’s wonderful to help her celebrate her special birthday.”