As Phyllis Shelley celebrated her 106th birthday, at Little Haven nursing home in Hampshire, she found herself joined by an extra surprise gift. It was Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts, the celebrated tenor whose debut album sold 2,000,000 copies. He’s also performed for The Queen, at the Royal Variety event, and sung at concerts worldwide. The singer, whose rendition of Puccini’s ‘Nessun dorma’ won him first place in the popular talent show back in 2007, had received a call from his agent. Phyllis’s daughter Wendy, from New Zealand, had been in touch asking if Paul might send her mother a signed photo for her birthday. Paul decided to do far more than that. “I decided a signed photo just wasn’t good enough, and so drove for 3 hours from my home in Wales, to meet Phyllis face to face at her party,” he said. “I’m so pleased I did. What a marvellous lady she is. If I make it to 106, I’d like to make it the way Phyllis has, really living life to the full.” Phyllis has followed Paul’s career since his first audition for Britain’s Got Talent, and has many of his CD’s. “He has a really lovely voice," she said. "When he walked through the door and sat down beside me I was lost for words. “But he was such a nice man, and we chatted for about an hour or so. “And of course he joined in singing me ‘Happy Birthday’ with everyone.” So what does Phyllis think the secret to a long life is? “I put it down to hard work during my working life,” she said. “And we always had good meals. My mother was an excellent cook and even throughout the war we still had lovely meals.” Another important ingredient in Phyllis’ life, which may or may not have affected her longevity, is drinking half a pint of a well-known Irish stout every night. And her birthday party saw her toasting Paul Potts’s orange juice with a large glass of Guinness. “The old adverts used the slogan ‘Guinness Is Good For You’”, she said. “In my case, it’s certainly not done me any harm!" Paul's latest album 'HOME' is available now at Amazon and via iTunes. Little Haven is one of two homes owned and operated by the Wilverley Association. Their second home is 'Forest Oaks' in the beautiful village of Brockenhurst, in the New Forest National Park. Images and story ©www.ChrisBalcombe.com