Three siblings with a combined age of 304 celebrated their eldest sister’s 107th birthday this week.

Gladys McInley, from Park Road, Teddington, enjoyed a day of presents, cards, cake and a meal out for her remarkable birthday on Wednesday, November 28.

The widower has impressed her family with her fortitude for many years but is in good company because her sister, who lives in Hove, is 101 and her brother, Walter Fox, is 96.

Mr Fox said: “I think her secret of long life is her outdoor lifestyle.

“She used to do swimming and outdoor camping and all that. She swam until she was about 80.

“I also swam every day until I was 86. That’s the only thing I can think is the secret to such a good age.

“She’s a real fresh air fiend.”

Mrs McInley said she loved spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter and grandson, and was joined for her birthday celebrations by her son who lives in Penge.

The 107-year-old was born in Clapham and lived in Roehampton before getting married and moving to Streatham and then Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia, with her husband.

Mr Fox said his sister lived in Rhodesia for about 20 years and ran a small school of about 30 children.

She returned to England in 1983 and moved to her flat in Teddington to be near her brother, who lives in Twickenham.