No fooling ‘Auntie Marj’ when she turns 108 on April 1
AT 107 she has has lived through two world wars, seen 24 Prime Ministers in number ten and outlived three monarchs.
Marjorie Hodnett, affectionately known as “Auntie Marj” was born on April 1, 1914. Marj credits her longevity to her genetics as she has centenarians on both sides of her family.
She said: “One family member lived until she was 103 so I’ve outlived her.
“My father always used to say that ‘creaking doors hang the longest’ and I think he was right about that one.”
Born in Harlesden, London, some of her earliest memories are of air raids during World War One.
She said: “I was brought down stairs and put on a mattress under the dining room table. I also remember one night my mother brought me out to see the Zeppelins fly past.”
Marj met her first husband Stanley in 1939 who sadly passed away in 1955.
She then married Hugh in 1956 and the couple moved to Sidbury in Devon where she was the teacher of a school reception class for 23 years.
In 2020 she moved to Formby to be closer to her family where she is visited regularly by her great niece Maggie.
This year Marj has continued to peruse her passion for poetry and also fought off Covid.
She said: “It was just a cold really, when the nurses found out they couldn’t get rid of me quick enough.
“When they came back in the room they were covered in plastic from head to toe, I thought it was quite funny.”
Formby Manor nursing home are planning celebrations for Marj’s 108th birthday on April 1 with a homemade cake and a live singer set to perform.
She said: “I’ve already picked out what I’m going to wear but once they have taken my photograph I can go back to bed.”
For her secret to a long and happy life Marj said: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
“They are five good rules to live by but I don’t think I’ve stuck to them entirely.”