Former tennis player Olive Dean was given an ace of a party to mark her 100th birthday.

Mrs Dean marked the occasion at Anchor Lodge retirement home, Walton.

Mrs Dean was born and brought up in Dovercourt, the second of six children.

Her brother Bert used to run a popular grocery store in Dovercourt, which before him was run by his uncle Bob.

Mrs Dean married her husband John and moved to Lawford, and during the Second World War went to the west country.

She worked briefly on the railways and lived in Birch Avenue, Dovercourt, then later moved into Foundry Court in Manningtree.

For the past two years, she has been at Anchor Lodge.

Published Wednesday January 7, 2004

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