Clean-living birthday girl Edna's secret to long life

From the archive, first published Tuesday 17th Jan 2006.

EDNA Wilkes thinks she has the secret to living long - and she would know, having hit the 101 mark yesterday.

Simple, clean living and plenty of exercise is what she swore by for most of her youth, and it seems to have done the trick.

Edna, who has lived at PALS Residential Care Home on Ombersley Road for the past seven years, has spent most of her life in Worcester after being born in Dunhampton, near Kidderminster.

She had a happy marriage to Worcester-born builder, Dennis Wilkes, which lasted more than 50 years.

Unfortunately, Edna was too frail to speak to us but her longtime friend Jessie Beard, aged 87, said: "She was very active and used to like gardening a lot.

"I was her neighbour on Ombersley Road for many years before she moved into the home.

"She would ride a bike virtually everywhere when she became a pensioner, and did it for at least 15 years. She likes a cup of tea and the occasional glass of wine. Being active was what helped her live so long."

as she has."

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