SHE LOVES A ROAST BUT ELLIE WON’T TOUCH DRINK
AT 109, Ellie Lawther is the oldest person living on the island of Ireland – and she has two pieces of advice for anyone wanting to match her longevity: ‘Don’t ever drink or smoke.’
Born on March 6, 1909, in east Belfast, the widowed mother of three children – who are aged 76, 78 and 82 – said apart from her lifestyle choices, ‘the Lord has kept me going. It is his will’.
With each successive birthday, the former seamstress has letters from Queen Elizabeth and the High Sheriff of Belfast, and holds dear the commemorative coins in velvet blue boxes that she received from President Michael D. Higgins for reaching 101.
Geraldine MacGuire, house manager of St Finnian’s independent living for older people, where Ellie has lived for the past 23 years, told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Her secret is hard work, and she has always cared for her neighbours.’
Ms MacGuire added: ‘She has a glass of hot water first thing in the morning before she eats anything. Then she will have her porridge and prunes, and she loves roast beef and cream potatoes, but doesn’t have many sweet things as she says, “You need to watch yourself”.
If she feels she is putting on a few pounds she will cut it back. She is a very disciplined lady and does her exercises every day. But alcohol is not allowed pass her lips. She says, “There’s no need for it.”’
Ellie keeps up to date to technology. The silver surfer regularly taking to Skype to stay in touch with her son in Canada, who is now in his late 70s.