Enjoying food and a sense of humour are the keys to a long and healthy life, according to a St Neots woman who celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday.
Florence Hilsdon, who is a resident at Poppyfields in Eynesbury, was joined by more than 100 guests for a family party on Sunday, which included a live band and St Neots town crier Mike Blackburn.
Florence, who has three children, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, said: “I love my food, I still have two lumps of sugar in my tea and I love cream cakes and sweets and chocolates and I have never been on a diet.”
She was born in Luton and worked in the town’s famous hat industry after leaving school and came to Poppyfields, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, last July. She is the first person at Poppyfields to celebrate their 100th birthday.
Florence, who was one of eight children and was sickly as a child, said she couldn’t believe she had reached 100.
“I was the smallest of the babies and they gave me cod liver oil to get the weight on - I have outlived my brothers and sisters. Now, all I take is two blood pressure tablets each day. I get up early every day and I love watching the darts, football and snooker on the television.”
She said her party was “really beautiful” and it was “lovely to see everyone so happy”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here