Going strong at 105

Antipodean Andy · Jun 4, 2008

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | South East Wales | 'No fuss' for Margaret, aged 105

Margaret Sadler has lived through five monarchs, two World Wars and remembers life before cars and electricity.

She has seen Wales win 10 rugby Grand Slams, was in her 60s when Beatlemania arrived and was 80 before she retired.

Turning 105 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire she said the secret of her longevity was a bottle or two of Guinness a day and "hard work".

She said she did not want any fuss for her latest birthday but said her second card from the Queen was "lovely".

"She's amazing. We can't believe she's 105," said her daughter-in-law Audrey Sadler, who is married to Margaret's 77-year-old son Gerald.

"She's worked hard all her life. But she's still in good health, eats well and can walk with some help. She's never complained about anything and has had a happy life."

Mrs Sadler, who was born in 1903, left school when she was 13 to work at a local farm in Devauden, near Tintern in the Wye Valley, where she was born and brought up.

She then went to work as a silver service waitress at the Anchor Hotel next to Tintern Abbey when she was 14 - and did not leave until she was 80.

"I loved it," said Mrs Sadler, who has eight grandchildren and "too many great-grandchildren to remember".

"I carried trays out to the lawn and up in the dining rooms and up the stairs.

"I had a bottle of Guinness a day when I was working - or sometimes two. That kept me going."

Even after she retired at 80, she went back to the hotel for a couple of parties to help serve guests.

"After retiring she wasn't happy at all," said Gerald.

"She was miserable at home and she just sat in front of the fire. So she went back to help a couple of times. She loved working. She only really went part time when she was about 70. She just kept going."

Mrs Sadler married her husband James - known as Jim - when she was 23 and they brought up their children Gerald and Joan, 80, in a cottage high above the Wye Valley in Church Grove, Tintern.

Mrs Sadler (second from left) with her old workmates at the Anchor Hotel

"We had 50 chickens and some ponies, which kept mum busy. And she always walked everywhere, even after being in work all day," said Gerald.

Mrs Sadler lived alone after her husband died from a stoke in 1977, then with her daughter before moving to Castle Court residential home in Chepstow nine years ago, where she is affectionately known as 'gran'.

"She has lived through a lot," said Audrey.

"We don't know if she is the oldest woman in Wales but she must be close.

"She has received her second card from the Queen - the first was when she was 100. Now she'll get one every year."

Mrs Sadler also received telegrams from First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Welsh secretary Paul Murphy and James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary.

But she insisted she did not want a fuss for her latest birthday, which was being celebrated at the residential home, with family, friends and a birthday cake.

Mrs Sadler added: "I didn't tell anyone. But the card from the Queen was lovely."

MARGARET'S MEMORIES:
World War I : "I was worried when my dad Jack went away in the army in the First World War. He was in Woolwich in London. I was relieved and happy when he came home
The 1930s: "I can't remember the first time I went in a car but I do remember when there were six cars in the village. They all belonged to the hotel owners
World War II: "It was dreadful really. My husband was too old to go to war and my son was too young. But we had quite a lot of worrying becuase some of my brothers went. Rationing wasn't very good
Queen Elizabeth II's coronation: "I remember King George and the crowning of Princess Elizabeth. She was beautiful
2008: "I don't think the world's a better place today. It's not so homely. People aren't like they used to be. You used to be able to leave your doors open"
Click to expand...

spidge · Jun 4, 2008

Very true statements there!

Log in or Sign up

Going strong at 105

Antipodean Andy New Member

spidge Active Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Going strong at 105

Thread Tools

Antipodean Andy New Member

spidge Active Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches