Secret of long life is to be happy, says 100-year-old woman (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Edith Danby celebrated her big day this week
9:19am Sunday 21st October 2012 in Local By Helen Morton
Secret of long life is to be happy, says 100-year-old woman
A SPRIGHTLY great-grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday – and she said the secret to a long life is probably just trying to be happy.
Edith Dandy, who moved to Tadley 35 years ago following the death of her late husband Leslie, has enjoyed three get-togethers to celebrate her incredible milestone.
Last Sunday, about 50 of her family and friends gathered at Sandford Springs Golf Club near Kingsclere, and on Tuesday she met with dozens of friends from the Age Concern Tadley and District group for a birthday celebration at the Ambrose Allen Centre, in Franklin Avenue.
The group, who meet for their lunch club every Tuesday morning, celebrated with a cake and a sing-song. There was also a visit from Tadley town and borough councillor David Leeks, who wished Mrs Danby happy birthday. Mrs Danby, who has been a member of the group for more than three decades, described the day as “wonderful.”
She said: “I’ve made lots of very good friends in Tadley. I don’t know what the secret of a long life is. I just try to be happy I suppose and I always have regular meals. The years go by so quickly and I have a lovely family.”
Mrs Danby, who lives independently, worked as a seamstress from the age of 14 and during the Second World War she worked soldering in a factory in Northolt.
She said: “Being a seamstress, I was used to working with my hands so I didn’t find it very difficult.”
She has one daughter, three grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. On Wednesday, her family were set to take her for a champagne lunch at The Ritz Hotel, in London.
Her daughter, Lynda Knight, 65, said: “I think long life runs in the family. My grandmother lived to the age of 105.
“My mum has a really good sense of humour and enjoys doing crosswords. Her biggest joy comes from her family. She loves hearing about how everyone is getting along and what they are doing.”
