105 & STREETWISE
Selma has lived on same road all her life and has no plans to leave
A WOMAN who will be 105 next week has lived on the same road since the day she was born.
Selma Callaghan grew up in one house until she was 26 then moved to a new home a few yards away – and has never spent time in hospital.
The great-great gran has a loving family who regularly visit and she insists on living independently in Chickerell Road, Weymouth in Dorset.
Her daughter Valerie, 77, said: “Living 105 years in the same road must be a record? And in the same house for 79 years.
“Mum has been very independent, done her shopping and banking, but lockdown has forced her to take things a lot easier and now she relies on the family to help out.
“Can you imagine the changes this lady has seen? Her father was killed in the First World War in 1916. Her husband, after a long service in the Royal Navy, died in 1976, so she has been a widow for many years.”
Selma was born at home in 1915 while her father was fighting for his country. She has lived alone for 40 years after her husband died and her mother passed away in 1980.
A love of chocolate and her “can do” attitude is what she attributes to her long and happy life.
But Valerie said: “She has been very upset about Covid- 19. Before the pandemic, I’d always take her out to celebrate her birthday, but this year we are a bit too worried to go somewhere.
“My younger sister Heather and I will go over to Mum’s house and spend the day with her, which will be l o v e ly. She’s comp lete ly compos mentis.
“She’s bright as a button and entirely self-sufficient. But unfortunately, the impact of coronavirus has meant her health has deteriorated.”
Valerie, whose husband David died in 2018, added: “It has been so lovely having her around, especially when my David died. Having her there was a real source of comfort to me.”