Healthy diet is key to centenarian’s long life
A BIDEFORD woman has marked her 100th birthday with family.
Patricia Scanlan’s nickname is ‘Lily’ because when she was born her father remarked that her skin was “as fair as the lily.”
She was born in Portarlington, Eire, on March 29, 1924, and came over to England on her own in the late 1940s first to Birmingham then to London where she made a career for herself working for British Rail.
Patricia married in 1951 and has a daughter and three sons as well as four grandchildren.
Her son David said: “Mum has been to Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand and she still has itchy feet!
“She has lived in Bideford for the past 12 years and loves the wilder feel of this part of the county. Up until fairly recently she was still managing her daily walk to the old Iron Bridge on the Tarka Trail.
She celebrated her 100th borthday on Good Friday.
David added: “A clue to mum’s longevity may lie in the visit she made in the 1970s to doctor and nutritionist Gordon Latto trying to find an alternative cure for her arthritis.
“Dr Latto gave her a diet forbiddingthe consumption of meat, fish or poultry.
“In addition, a morning ritual of a cold, then hot, shower was required.
“It’s a testament to Patricia’s strength of character that she persevered with this routine. Being a vegetarian in the 1970s must have felt quite lonely – some of her relatives thought it was a
»Patricia
contagious disease!
“Patricia’s secret to long life is really no secret at all: Eat well, exercise, try something new and stay positive!”
£593 was raised, which included some donations. We would like to acknowledge the generous donations of cream and jam from Roddas of Cornwall, and scones from Philip Dennis (gluten free scones from a local source) this will enable us to send more money to Cancer Research UK who are doing such vital work on our behalf. Every day we see people on our screens who are motivated to do just that and the London Marathon has shown us the lengths some partakers feel the urge to do so.
Can you help us in our endeavours? We need more helpers as we are a comparatively small working group.
Our annual general meeting takes place on Friday, May 3, at 2pm in the committee room of the Parish Hall.
Members of the public are invited to attend, the chairman will present her report for 2023 followed by the treasurer. Also in attendance will be Kim Hammerton who is the area representative covering our area.
On Monday, May 27, the Braunton Village Fair will be held on the Recreation Ground.
We shall hold an Anything Goes tombola so look for us as you walk round.Any items
you have which you would like to donate ,welcome. Please no food items and all goods must be unused.Thank you all once again,we know we can always rely on the Braunton Community.
CHRISTIAN AID
Plant sale on Saturday, May 11, in Braunton Parish Hall from 10am.
Excess plants which you may have welcome. These can be brought to the hall from 9am.All types of plants, flowers fruit or vegetables… happily accepted.
If you are coming to buy, please remember to bring your own bags!
This was a great success last year, we hope the same will be repeated!
Christian Aid Week service on Sunday, May 12, 10.30am at Christchurch Braunton.
All welcome this is a joint service between all the local churches .
ST BRANNOCK’S CHURCH
Services are each Sunday at 9.45am: communion with hymns and readings followed by coffee and tea in St Brannock’s Rooms. On Wednesdays at 10am there is a said Communion service in church followed by coffee in the Rooms.