TOMATO juice and exercise are the key to a long life, according to one Winchester centenarian who celebrated her birthday last Thursday.

Iris Springhall celebrated turning 100, surrounded by family and friends at a party held in Winchester Cathedral’s Paul Woodhouse Suite.

The former youth and fitness model has lived in Winchester for the past 20 years, but was born in Battersea in 1918.

Her father owned a butcher shop in the London district, where she worked for several years before moving to Richmond to get a job in a telephone exchange until she retired at 65 in the early 1980s.

Iris met her husband Onslow in Battersea Park and the pair were married in 1949, when Iris was 30.

The pair were married for 45 years and had two sons, John and Chris.

Onslow passed away when he was 79.

Her son John, an academic who lectured at the University of Ulster, died two years ago at the age of 72.

When asked how she feels about turning 100, the mother of two said: “I don’t feel old; it just happens, it creeps up on you.”

A keen reader, Iris said her favourite author is Barbara Pym.

Despite her age, she still looks after herself and tries to be as active as possible. “I tried yoga recently but my back wasn’t quite strong enough,” she said.

However, Iris enjoys still enjoys going out for lunch with her son Chris and up until recently, going for walks.

In a speech at the party, her son Chris said: “We are here to celebrate the life of an amazing woman.”