Shirley Brangman is Glamorous Granny for 2003 ? even though she was at first hesitant of entering competition.

"I was surprised I had won," Mrs. Brangman said, still wearing an elegant, lavender gown she pulled out after 30 years of being stowed away.

"I wore this dress when I was maid of honour at a dear friend's wedding," she said.

The amethyst and gold earrings and necklace Mrs. Brangman wore made her radiant face sparkle even more and they matched the dress perfectly.

"My husband gave me this jewellery almost 30 years ago."

Competition coordinator Elizabeth Wingate said: "The ladies are asked to wear whatever makes them look the best."

The senior clubs across the Island submit the names of women each year and the only requirement is that they are over 65.

The three judges were Claudette Fleming, director of Age Concern, Reverend Thomas Nisbett and Peter Cooper, managing director of A.S. Cooper & Sons, and they assessed the competitors in how they walk and curtsy.

The competition has been going on for seven years. Mrs. Brangman said she was hesitant about entering this year.

"I entered at the eleventh hour. But since my club, St. George's Joy Club, had asked me to do this twice I decided I would do it," Mrs. Brangman said.

"I was very surprised, but I put on a show," she added rather modestly.

Mrs. Brangman said her four grandchildren would be very surprised that she won as well.

The winning grandmother reigns for the year and is invited to greet people at A.S. Cooper's for a special people day and they get to ride in the Santa Claus and Heritage Day parades.

Frances Douglas of the Smiling Glee Club in St. David's placed second and Myra Bristol of the Mount Zion Senior Circle placed third.