Former dancer in Banbury still sets the room alight at the age of 102

Celebrations were in full swing as a former dancer marked her 102nd birthday in Banbury.

Staff at Glebefields Care Home in Drayton heard stories about Christine Brookes's eventful life - including her role as a film star!

Christine Brookes was born on June 29 1920 in Bridgewater, Somerset, and the family moved to Swindon when she was just two. From a very young age Christine showed talent in many things, she learned to play the piano as a child, and later also played the organ in her local church.

Glebefields Care Home said: "Christine is a wonderful lady, loved by all at Glebefields. As she met with her family during her birthday celebrations they took time to reflect on her amazing life and reminisce on her achievements."

During the Second World War she served in the National Fire Service in Swindon.

She met her husband; Reg, a recently de-mobbed soldier at a dance just after the war and they moved to North Wales.

The marriage produced five children. Sadly, Reg died in 1962. Christine later remarried and with her new husband; Les, became ballroom dancing teachers, and competed in ballroom dancing competitions across the UK and Europe, becoming the Great Britain Amateur Champions two years running.

The dynamic dancing duo also appeared in the period drama S4C Welsh language TV film ‘Madam Wen’ (The White Lady).

Now, in her later years, Christine is registered blind, and lives the next chapter of her life at Glebefields. While she is no longer donning her dancing sequins, staff said she can still set the room alight with her smile.

General manager Nisha Shaji added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating a truly remarkable woman as she reaches this amazing milestone.

"Christine is such a popular resident, we were in awe to learn she was also a film star! We will certainly be searching the internet to find the film her and Les were in so we can all enjoy her debut performance.”