She’s seen five British monarchs, lived through two World Wars and survived two global pandemics.
But what is 107-year-old Edna Walmsley’s secret to a long and happy life?
Having a good appetite.
Ex-school cook Edna Walmsley was born on October 9, 1916 as WW1 waged across Europe, and is believed to be the oldest woman in Lancashire.
Now a resident of Pendle Brook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle, the widow is famous for almost never being seen without a cup of tea to hand.
Ex-school cook Edna Walmsley was born on October 9, 1916, as WW1 waged across Europe, and recently celebrated her 107th birthday with a party and a glass of fizz
Now a resident of Pendle Brook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle, she described her recent birthday party as a ‘a jolly good time’
Recently celebrating her 107th birthday, which she described as ‘a jolly good time’, she divulged what she considers the secret of her impressive longevity.
‘I’ve lived a long time haven’t I? The secret to long life is I have always had good food and a good appetite,’ she said.
‘My mother always gave me good food. I’ve never been hungry – and also my poetry. I’ve always loved poetry.’
Edna has lived through the reigns of King George V (1910-1936), King Edward VIII (1936), King George VI (1936-1962), Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022) and now King Charles III.
Born into the second year of WW1, Edna was 23 when conflict erupted across the continent yet again in WW2.
The great-grandmother is also one of the few people to experience two pandemics, living through the wave of Spanish Flu in 1918-19 and far more recently, Covid.
Edna and her late husband Clifford raised three kids together — Andrew, Adrienne, and Alyson.
The great-grandmother is also one of the few people to experience two pandemics, living through the wave of Spanish Flu in 1918-19 and far more recently Covid
She has three grandsons (Christopher, Stephen and Nicholas), as well as four great-grandchildren (Fred, Alice, Jack and Finn).
Edna loves reading, poetry and crosswords and can still recite the poems she learned at school.
She also enjoyed yoga well into her 90s and was an avid traveller, visiting Vienna and Dusseldorf and even embarking on a solo trip to India.
Pendle Brook’s activity coordinator Claire Rothwell said: ‘She has an amazing long-term memory and is able to recite word-for-word poetry which she learned at school.
‘She has a keen eye and sense of humour and is an absolute pleasure to be with.’
The current record holder for the oldest Brit was Charlotte Hughes, who died at 115 years and 288 days old in 1993.
Ethel Caterham from Ash Vale in Surrey is currently the oldest person alive in Britain, celebrating her 114th birthday in August this year.
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