It promises to be quite a knees up when Phyllis Dyer Bell is joined by friends and family to celebrate her 100th birthday.

One of nine children, Phyllis grew up on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and moved to the UK as a teenager.

She began nursing at the Middlesex hospital in London and then moved to the Walled Garden, in Andover in 1964 with her husband Alan, and son, Francis. Sadly Phyllis is the sole surviving sibling, but has a large family in the UK, in Spain, and Trinidad.  

(Image: Kate Murphy)

Thirteen years ago, Phyllis moved to Lion Oak Court in Andover, which offers independent living with care staff on site 24 hours a day.

Kate Murphy remembers helping her to move in. An independent care worker, she said she was struck by Phyllis's lively personality: 

"Phyllis is a remarkable lady and is a true inspiration to so many people. She has an independent spirit and I’m incredibly impressed with her zest for life, which is one of the reasons she remains so young at heart!”

Kate has now been caring for Phyliis for 13 years, popping in to see her three times a week: 

“I love spending time with her, we chat about her childhood and growing up in the Caribbean and her days working as a nurse in London. I have come to love Phyllis very much and I'm lucky enough for her to say she thinks of me as her daughter, she’s a very special person.”

HERE'S MORE: Andover Christmas light switch on: All you need to know

Staff at Lion Oak Court have described Phyllis as a remarkable lady and are working hard to support her while her niece Karin, said: “I think the world of her, she’s an inspiration to everyone.”

Celebrations to mark Phyliss’s centenary include a party  on Thursday, December 5 with live music and a twist of Caribbean fun. Family from Spain and the Caribbean are planning to fly over to join the fun.

Kate added: “We’re really looking forward to celebrating this milestone, she truly deserves this!"