Everyone knows that Dartford was once home to some of the world’s oldest rockers, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, but did you know it’s the present home of someone who claims to be the world’s oldest rapper?

The Guinness Book of World Records is considering 90-year-old Joy Philippou for the title ahead of its 2018 edition, with the pensioner still performing to crowds of hundreds in her bid to inspire youngsters to make the most of life.

Mrs Philippou, a half-Spanish-half-Russian doctor of philosophy, who moved to Stone House Lane, Dartford, five years ago, uses rap as a way of engaging with those at risk of becoming embroiled in a life of crime on the streets.

“Rap is actually poetry but it’s aimed at a certain section of the community, mostly youngsters between 18 and 25,” she explained.

“It’s the language of the young today. If you have something you want to communicate and share with them, if you say it in normal language – especially if you’re an older person – they don’t want to hear.

“But if you say it in rap they prick their ears up and become interested, so I started putting my ideas into rap so that I could communicate with them.”

Her rapping career was inspired by her time as a religion teacher at schools in Sussex back in the 1970s, where she found it difficult to engage with a class of “hoodlums”.

Even the head teacher struggled with this class of troublemakers, but Mrs Philippou then realised that music and rhythm was the way to go and found plenty of success.

Video: Rapper Joy is hoping for a world record

“They didn’t want to hear me when I preached to them, but when I started doing this spiritual rap they said they would listen,” she said.

“Not everyone wanted spiritual rap, so I then started doing rapping about topical things like pollution, crime, or whatever.

“Later I was asked to go to other schools to rap during assemblies and I was finding that it was a way of communicating with younger people.”

This way of engaging with youth proved key in her setting up the Star Foundation (sociable, trustworthy and responsible), which aims to get young people on the right track.

Mrs Philippou, who has appeared on The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, set up the foundation after seeing youngsters living on the streets interviewed on the news.

“Some of these people are not as privileged as others and their life seems to take a direction that is undesirable to society and not beneficial to themselves,” she said.

“They might turn to crime, or if they’re isolated they feel they want to join a gang or something like that.

“The point is showing that there is another way and they can live a fuller life.”

Youngsters who prove committed to turning their lives around by staying out of trouble are rewarded with a certificate, presented during a ceremony at the House of Lords.

There have been so many success stories that Mrs Philippou has received an MBE for service to young people.

Despite all the recognition she has received, and her advancing years, she still keeps busy and is now organising a gig to raise money for the foundation and give talented youngsters a stage on which to perform.

The Festival of Creativity takes place at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley at 7.30pm on Sunday, August 6.

Tickets are available at churchilltheatre.co.uk or on 020 3285 6000.