Born four years after the sinking of the Titanic, 110-year-old Catherine Hedges puts the secret to her longevity down to good food, plenty of fresh air – and her daily fix of the Daily Mail.
The long-retired local government worker said she had read the Mail virtually every day since moving to England from her native Ireland in 1944, when the country was still at war.
Mrs Hedges marked her latest milestone – which makes her a ‘supercentenarian’ as one of just an estimated 300 people aged 110 or more in the world – with a garden party at her Hampshire care home last month.
She was treated to a visit from the local mayor and a performance by a professional singer – and a fourth birthday card from His Majesty the King.
That day, as on most afternoons when the weather allows, Mrs Hedges also found time to peruse her favourite newspaper beside the large potted Peruvian lily which was a gift to the once-keen gardener a year earlier.
The widow said the Mail not only helps her keep in touch with the latest national and global affairs but also helps keep her brain active – and as a keen horse racing fan she pays special attention to the sports pages.
Mrs Hedges said: ‘I have been reading the Daily Mail since I moved to the UK at the age of 28.
‘I have only ever read the Daily Mail. I like it as it is one of the better newspapers.
Catherine Hedges reading her favourite paper in the care home’s garden earlier this week
The ‘supercentenarian’ toasts her 110th birthday with a glass of fizz
Mrs Hedges aged 28 shortly after she moved to Reading from her native Ireland
‘I enjoy reading the paper as it keeps me up to date with what is going on in the world, the good and the bad, and I like the sports pages – especially the horse racing.’
Born on July 8, 1916 in County Limerick, Ireland, Mrs Hedges moved to Reading, Berkshire, in 1944 ‘to see a bit of the world’ and liked England so much she decided to stay.
She met her late husband Leslie William Hedges, a freight transport manager, after she moved to England.
She was a qualified bookkeeper and in her younger years worked in a finance department, before switching to local government.
Mrs Hedges, who had no children, said she lost her husband 16 years ago. She moved to Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire, to be closer to her niece.
Until moving to Challoner House care home in the town 16 months ago, Mrs Hedges said she always had the Daily Mail delivered. She now takes advantage of the home’s copy of the newspaper.
Describing her daily routine, Mrs Hedges said she usually enjoys a leisurely morning before reading her Daily Mail ‘sitting in the sunshine, until around 5pm.’
Then, she said, it is time to tend to her lily, ‘deadheading and watering it with assistance from the staff before returning to my room to watch TV and have my supper.’
Mrs Hedges celebrated her birthday at a garden party arrnged by staff at Challoner House care home
Mrs Hedges pictured in her early thirties with husband Leslie
She said she has always enjoyed ‘good home-cooked’ food, adding ‘My mum was a very good cook.
‘I’ve always been active and love being outdoors in the fresh air.’
Mrs Hedges credits her late husband with introducing her to horse racing and recalled fondly how the pair would watch on the television together and place the odd bet.
The couple used to enjoy holidays through France with their touring caravan, or further afield in the Canary Islands.
These days she still watches the Grand National, and enjoys picking out the horses and telling staff at the home which horses have the best odds.
Sarah Hayman, general manager of Challoner House, said: ‘It is such a pleasure to be caring for this wonderful lady Catherine, it is a delight to see her every sunny afternoon sitting in her favourite spot in our beautiful garden reading her newspaper looking very relaxed.
‘We are now looking forward to helping Catherine plan for her 111th birthday party.’
Dr Tom Perls, Director of the New England centenarian study at Boston University’s school of medicine, described supercentenarians as ‘our crème-de-la-crème’.
Dr Perls said there are around 200 genes that affect or have a bearing on ageing and added that ‘getting the right combination of them is highly associated with getting to 110 or beyond’.
The School says there are likely 60 or so supercentenarians in the United States and 200-300 worldwide at any one time.
The world’s oldest living person is Ethel Caterham, who is due to turn 117 later this month and lives at a care home in Lightwater, Surrey.
