Muriel turns 100 – after a lifetime of clotted cream
AWEST pensioner who has celebrated her 100th birthday this week has revealed the secret to her long life could be three tubs of clotted cream a week.
Muriel Edwards, who still lives independently, celebrated her birthday with a party.
The centenarian said she does not really know a single secret to long life, although she does have a penchant for jewellery and crocheting.
Muriel also doesn’t drink, smoke or eat meat - except for corned beef.
And if there is one element of her diet that baffles family and friends, it’s that the 100-year-old will happily get through three tubs of clotted cream a week.
“She buys three tubs of clotted cream a week and has three sugars in her tea,” said younger sister Mo.
“She’ll have a piece of swiss roll or something and put clotted cream on top of that – everything’s got clotted cream on it.
“When I was a young girl and we used to go to work together, we used to run home for dinner because we were fit then.
“When I used to get home, I’d have a cup of coffee or a tea, and she would have a glass of milk and she’d spoon half the tub of clotted cream into the cold milk.
“She would drink it and you could see the look of ecstasy on her face when she’d get a lump of clotted cream. And you can’t look at her and say ‘that’s not good for you Muriel’, because she’s 100 years old and her health seems to be better than anyone else’s.”
Muriel herself is the first to admit her love for the treat: “I’ve always done it. Ever since I can remember, I buy it every week.”
Her birthday celebrations were no different, with the sweet-toothed centenarian tucking straight into a bowl of profiteroles and clotted cream once the buffet opened.
Born on October 30, 1921, Muriel grew up as one of seven children.
She is the oldest sibling by quite a distance. Her brother Eric, aged 82, lives in Spain while her youngest sister Maureen, also known as Mo, is yet to turn 80.
Despite the age gap, the two women, who both live in Plymouth, get on famously with Mo being the driving force behind her 100th birthday celebrations.
The great-grandmother has two children, five grandchildren and a handful of great-grandchildren who live all over the world.
Her son, who lives in Australia, was unable to make the party, but she was joined by daughter Pat, who made the trip to Plymouth from her home in Ireland.