A FOOTBALL-loving great grandmother who just celebrated her 100th birthday says the secret to her longevity is down to good, healthy stews.

Evelyn Jackson, from Kingham, was taken for a special meal at the Duke of Marlborough pub to mark the milestone event, which her son William Townsend said she "just wouldn't stop talking about".

Mr Townsend, her only son, said: "We had a lovely time. She thoroughly enjoyed it. She loved having her photo taken for the paper and everything."

Mrs Jackson was born on May 16, 1916 in Milton-under-Wychwood, before moving to Kingham as an adult. She was one of 12 siblings.

She had one son William in 1942 and also a daughter, Nancy.

In 1960 she married George Jackson, who died in 1982.

During her life Mrs Jackson worked at Pressed Steel in Cowley as a line worker and then moved to an engineering firm in Kingham.

She pinned her reason for such a long life on the nutritious meals her mother Millicent used to cook her, and the fresh vegetables her father Escot would grow in their allotment.

She said: "It was hard work and we did not have a great lot but my mother was a good cook and my brothers would go out and get rabbits and we would have rabbit stew. My father was a good gardener and we had plenty of healthy, good food.

"But times were hard."

Mrs Jackson, who lives in Field Road, has five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. She enjoys watching football – although supports no team in particular – and horse racing.

She wanted to pass on her thanks to everyone who sent cards and flowers to celebrate her birthday.