BLACKBURN'S first ever Sports Personality of the Year will celebrate her 80th birthday this weekend with a bash with some of her sporting friends from the past seven decades.

Marlene Devine will turn 80 on Sunday and will celebrate with a round of golf at Rishton Golf Club and a family meal.

But on Friday night she will be joined by friends from the world of golf, netball, squash, badminton and tennis to celebrate the milestone at a special party.

In local sport circles there is little Mrs Devine hasn't done.

The Blackburn Golf Club member still plays up to four times a week, she has represented her county at squash, badminton and tennis, and played for England at netball.

She said: "I played for England for four years between 1959 and 1963, it was one of my proudest moments representing my country.

"I stopped after four years because we had our son, Mark, but the highlight was playing at Wembley with 10,000 screaming schoolchildren there.

"We used to play against Australia and South Africa, but I missed the tour that we went on because I couldn't afford it at the time."

Golf is Marlene's true love, and she is a regular on the fairways and greens of East Lancashire.

"I've been a member at Blackburn for 35 years," she said.

"In the summer I play three or four times a week but only once a week in the winter.

"I used to play off a handicap of 12, but it has gone up to 28 now, although that's not bad for someone of my age. I enjoy getting out in the fresh air and walking around the course."

Mrs Devine, a former head of PE at St Wilfrid's, won the Blackburn Sports Personality of the Year award in 1969 and was also a talented junior tennis player, playing at junior Wimbledon before embarking on her teaching career.

She added: "I started at Haslingden Grammar School before spending 25 years at St Wilf's. It was a great school and I really enjoyed my time there."