Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lucy Skoulding

One of Britain's oldest women thanks lie-ins and bacon butties for reaching age of 109

One of Britain’s oldest women is still going strong – thanks to a lie-in and a bacon butty every day.

Winifred Parker, 109, was born in 1913, when King George V was on the throne and Woodrow Wilson was US President.

She was a professional singer, usherette and Woolworths worker during her remarkable career.

Winifred, who has two grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-great-grandchildren, lives in a care home.

Staff at the home, near Oxford, say the secret to her long and healthy life is a daily bacon sandwich.

She had a birthday part and 5 generations of her family were there (St John Care Trust / SWNS)

Sally Connolly, from Orders of St John Care Trust home, said: “She lies in till about 9.30am and then has a bacon sandwich every morning with a cup of tea. She just takes it in her stride, she puts her pearls on every day and gets dressed up.

“She just loves life really, it’s amazing.”

A party with five generations of her family – including her daughter-in-law Jane Jones, great-granddaughter Kelly White and great-great-granddaughter Bethany White – was held for her on Thursday.

Staff at the care home arranged for a saxophonist to come and play her favourite song, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, along with balloons and a bubble machine.

Winifred is believed to be Britain’s fifth-oldest living woman.

The oldest Briton is thought to be 113-year-old Ethel Caterham, from Ash Vale, Surrey, who was born in August 1909.

While her age is remarkable, there are still people around the world even older than Winnie.

At 118 years and 75 days old, Lucile Randon is now the oldest living person following the sad death of Kane Tanaka in April this year.

The nun, otherwise known as Sister André, has had an astonishingly long life and is currently the 4th oldest person ever to have lived.

Born in 1904, she can certainly say it has been a life well lived as her more than a century on Earth has seen her dedicate her time to helping other people.

In her younger years, Randon worked as a teacher and a governess, and spend much of the Second World War looking after children.

When the war ended, she travelled to Vichy to work in a hospital - where she spent 28 years supporting orphans and the elderly.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.