‘Don’t keep moaning’ – Barkingside woman’s secret to reaching 100 years
Two women have celebrated their centenarian birthdays with one saying the secret of living a long life is “don’t keep moaning”.
Lillian Greenaway and Hannah Clarke marked their separate birthdays with their families and friends.
Mrs Greenaway, of Mossford Lane, Barkingside, who turned 100 on Wednesday, received more than 50 birthday cards including a very special one from the Queen.
Of the card she said: “It was lovely. I could get used to this, especially with all the cards and flowers and everybody coming to see me, I’m having a lovely time.”
She celebrated her birthday with a meal and get together of her family and friends at a pub in Romford. She added: “We went for a meal and had a little party, it was nice with plenty of company.”
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Her two children Patricia, who lives in Spain, and David, who lives in Scotland, are now both in their 70s.
Mrs Greenaway moved to Barkingside in 1934 when she got married. She worked in a bakery in High Street, Barkingside until 1973.
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On reaching the milestone she said: “I think the secret is – don’t keep moaning be happy and help people as much as you can. Sometimes old people moan a lot and I try not to.”
Mrs Clarke, who has lived in Manford Way, Hainault, all her life, received a surprise birthday party thrown by her friend and carer Victoria Barton-Fisher.
Mrs Barton-Fisher said: “She’s an amazing lady. We did a surprise party, she didn’t know anything.”
She worked until 88 and during her career worked at an auction company and with stockbrokers. Mrs Barton-Fisher added: “She used to do shorthand. Her sight failed or she would still be working now.”
Her party, for which her son flew in from America, was held at the Epping Forest Community Church hall in Loughton on Sunday.
