She has 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?
Bon appetit.
Former school cook Edna Walmsley was born on October 9, 1916, as the First World War raged across Europe, and is believed to be the oldest woman in Lancashire.
The widow, who now lives at Pendle Brook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle, is known for being almost never seen without a cup of tea in her hand.
Former school cook Edna Walmsley was born on October 9, 1916, as the First World War raged across Europe, and recently celebrated her 107th birthday with a party and a glass of champagne
She now lives at Pendle Brook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle and described her recent birthday celebration as “a fun time”.
She recently celebrated her 107th birthday, which she described as “a joyful time,” and revealed what she believes is the secret to her impressive longevity.
“I’ve lived a long time, haven’t I? “The secret to a long life is that I always had good food and a good appetite,” she said.
“My mother always gave me good food. I was never hungry – and neither was my poetry. “I’ve always loved poetry.”
Edna covered 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. experienced.
Edna was born in the second year of the First World War and was 23 years old when conflict broke out again on the continent during the Second World War.
The great-grandmother is also one of the few people who have experienced two pandemics, namely the wave of Spanish flu in 1918-19 and much more recent Covid illnesses.
Edna and her late husband Clifford raised three children together – Andrew, Adrienne and Alyson.
The great-grandmother is also one of the few people who have experienced two pandemics, namely the wave of Spanish flu in 1918-19 and much more recent Covid illnesses
She has three grandchildren (Christopher, Stephen and Nicholas) and four great-grandchildren (Fred, Alice, Jack and Finn).
Edna loves reading, poetry and crossword puzzles and can still recite the poems she learned in school.
She also enjoyed yoga well into her 90s and was an avid traveler, visiting Vienna and Düsseldorf and even taking a solo trip to India.
Claire Rothwell, activities coordinator at Pendle Brook, said: “She has an amazing long-term memory and is able to recite poems she learned at school word for word.”
“She has a keen eye and sense of humor and is a real joy to be with.”
The current record holder for oldest British woman was Charlotte Hughes, who died in 1993 at the age of 115 years and 288 days.
Ethel Caterham, from Ash Vale in Surrey, is currently the oldest living person in Britain and will celebrate her 114th birthday in August this year.