A STIFF Martini is what 105-year-old Ivy Gilham reckons is her secret to good health and long life. Members of Mrs Gilham's family converged on Larchmere Nursing Home, Biddenden Road, Frittenden, to celebrate her milestone birthday.

Born Ivy Phillips in London in 1896, Mrs Gilham became an accounts clerk and married Harry Gilham, head teacher at Plumstead High School, after he returnedcame back from the First World War in 1918. He had survived both the battles of the Somme and Ypres and returned home to marry his sweetheart. Their wedding took place at St John's Church, Poplar, London.

The couple had one son, Eric, born in 1920. Mrs Gilham, who moved to Frittenden with her husband in 1980, has two grandsons, Christopher and Peter, three great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Mrs Gilham, who had smoked for 60 years, gave up two years ago when she moved into the nursing home. Peter, who now lives in The Street, Frittenden, said: "She really enjoyed her birthday party and it really perked her up. She did manage a Martini. She doesn't take any medication and she's never ill. We must have good genes."