Our Ivie's a pillar of the local societies

But after spotting the need to set up a club for the elderly in the area, Ivie, of Mortimer Road, threw her heart and soul into getting it off the ground.

Now, her efforts have been recognised with the grant of lifetime membership of the Millennium Awards Fellowship to mark her personal commitment and achievement in "strengthening and enriching" her community.

Having spotted the gap in facilities for Botley's senior citizens, Ivie launched the Pudbrook Associated Social Activities Club based at Atlantic Housing Association's Pudbrook House sheltered accommodation with grants from Botley Parish Council and Eastleigh Council.

Then she applied for lottery money and managed to secure £2,000 from the Awards For All scheme and another £2,000 Citizen Award.

Now, the club is flourishing with members enjoying weekly activities such as short mat bowls, line dancing, bingo, outings and talks from guest speakers.

But it was Ivie's applications for lottery cash that led to her fellowship award.

She explained: "I went on two seminars in London and was invited to do a course. It took a year and I had to produce reports on what I felt the elderly needed in the community.

"The prize at the end, if we passed the test, was the award - so I am now a Millennium Fellow and think I must be one of the oldest."

Each Millennium Fellow must have devised and carried out a project which not only contributed to their own personal skills and development but also have made a real and lasting difference to lives of their communities. But Ivie - a former secretary and caretaker for the National Union of Mineworkers in Nottinghamshire - has not rested on her laurels. She now also helps other groups with funding opportunities from the National Lottery, works as a committee member on the Eastleigh Southern Parishes Older People's Forum and the Eastleigh Compact and is also a member of the tenants forum of the Atlantic Housing Association.