100-Year-Old Woman Shares Her Secrets To Living A Long Life

A woman who has just celebrated her 100th birthday credits an active lifestyle and drinking plenty of Guinness as her secrets for longevity. Well, I can definitely do one of those things.

Mary Tipping, who is affectionately known as Paddy, marked her 100th year with a garden party at the Fitzwarren House care home in Highworth where she lives.

Wiltshire-born Mary was surrounded by family and friends for her special day and tucked into a birthday cake shaped like a pint of Guinness.

Mary was showered with gifts from her loved-ones as well as receiving a card from the Queen for reaching the special milestone.

Talking about her key to a long life, Mary said: "Working for so long kept me active and the daily Guinness never did me any harm."

And despite hitting her tenth decade, she still knocks back a bottle of the Black Stuff every day. Nicely done, Mary.

Talking about the day, granddaughter Lorraine said: "It was a lovely day and something that Nan had focused her sights on achieving, especially in the last few months.

"She has always been full of energy and has worked hard all her life."

Mary lived and worked in Oxford in her younger years, before marrying Arthur Day in 1944 - the couple had sons Tony, David and Ted.

The three sons went on to have a total of 10 grandkids.

They were together until Arthur's death in 1968, with Mary later marrying second husband Jack Tipping, who sadly died in 2009.

Mary worked as secretary for the Swindon-based Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers until her retirement at 60.

But she didn't slow just because she retired and took on part time work at Honda and as a cleaner at Highworth Police Station.

Lorraine added: "She loved this job and only retired from it relatively recently - and even then she was very reluctant to do so!"

Aged 70 she took up the role of town crier - something her grandfather had done all the way back in the 1880s.

Mary moved into Fitzwarren House in her late 90s and has established herself as a lively member of the community.