A lively great great gramdma celebrated her 103rd birthday in style this week, with a slap-up italian meal and an afternoon tea party.

East Anglian Daily Times: Evelyn Dixon blows out the candles on her 103rd birthday cake. Picture: GREGG BROWNEvelyn Dixon blows out the candles on her 103rd birthday cake. Picture: GREGG BROWN

A lively great great gramdma celebrated her 103rd birthday in style this week, with a slap-up italian meal and an afternoon tea party.

Evelyn ‘Micky’ Dixon, a resident at Melford Court care home in Long Melford, enjoyed her day filled with cards and gifts from well-wishers, but said she couldn’t quite believe she was 103. “I think it’s just crazy,” the former secretary said. “You never expect to reach such an age! There have been people in an out all day to wish me ‘Happy Birthday’ and I’ve had cards and presents and some beautiful flowers - not that I need anything at this age!”

Mrs Dixon was born near Liverpool in 1915 and met her husband, Peter, at the beginning of the second world war.

The pair met at Liverpool ice rink while skating, a hobby she enjoyed in her youth.

She and Peter had two daughters and enjoyed an adventurous life together, touring the US in a camper van and visiting Mexico, Guatamala and Canada, even living for a time in Spain.

Mrs Dixon said she got her nickname from a former boss who called her Micky after Mickey Mouse, because she looked so much younger than her years.

“I always did look young and have always been quite small. I still do look younger than I am. People think I’m in my seventies! “I don’t know what my secret is. I never ate lots of fruit and vegetables like I was supposed to - but I did do yoga and tai chi and skate a lot. I just enjoyed my life, really.”

Mrs Dixon’s family took her out to dinner and staff at Melford Court, organised a tea party.

Activities co-ordinator at the Hall Street care home, Elaine King said: “Micky is such a wonderful person to be around. She’s very lively and chatty and has great stories to tell. She loves music and can still get up and have a bit of a boogie.

“She is very popular and lots of fun and very sharp for her age. It really is hard to believe she is 103.

“We organised a tea party for her and hope that she really enjoyed her special day.”