She has never had an alcoholic tipple, retired from work in her 80s and was still out and about shopping last year – yet at 102 Gladys Kightly still loves to keep busy.
Gladys celebrated the milestone birthday among family and friends at Askham House Care Home in Doddington today (October 25).
“She’s never had a drink and even refused a liquor chocolate from us once,” smiled daughter, Janet Huntleigh-Smith.
“She has been and still is a wonderful mother, spending every penny on us as children and making sure we had the best.”
Gladys was born in Chatteris and went to school in Stonea before meeting her late husband Stanley when he was a milkman.
They married in Doddington and had two children, Janet and Susan, while Gladys worked various jobs on the land in the Fens and as a nanny, cleaner and caterer.
When she hit her 100s Gladys was still spending time visiting her daughters and going shopping and on picnics with them, until she moved into Askham House in December last year.
Daugher, Susan Kightly, said: “For 102 she is brilliant and really happy. She is the same weight as she was when she got married and has lived a very active and healthy lifestyle.”
Janet added: “At 82 she was still working and has always been very independent and hardworking.
“She used to do lots of knitting, flower arranging, gardening and was part of the WI.
“Even now she’ll sit in the garden here and offer advice - she still loves to keep her mind busy and is very active in what she thinks.
“We are so very lucky to have her with us still – we didn’t think she would live this long but we can only hope that we have the same genes as her!”
Dozens of cards, flowers, balloons and perfume gift sets were given to Gladys by people attending her party at Askham House this morning.
Cake, sausage rolls and prosecco were also on offer as guests celebrated her sparkling 102 years.
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