Reaching 100 fails to faze sprightly Jane (From Warrington Guardian)

Reaching 100 fails to faze sprightly Jane

THE secret of a long and happy life runs in the family according to a Lostock woman who celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday, Tuesday.

But Jane Billington, of Manchester Road, is still a spring chicken compared with her older sister Fanny, 102, and is not at all fazed by her centenary achievement.

She said: "It's just like all the others really and it'll just come and go.

"But I've always had a happy life and been very lucky to reach 100.

"I've also been very lucky to have a big family always centred on home - nephews and nieces are always dropping in."

Jane and Fanny live with their younger brother Arthur, 85, who is very proud of both of them and thinks he knows their true secret of a long life.

He said: "It's having someone to boss about."

He added: "They've gone through the whole lot - political changes and everything - it's been one of the most important centuries and they've lived through it."

Before the Second World War, Jane was in domestic service at a boarding school, then she worked at ICI during the war and was transferred to Octel until she retired.

She also did a lot of work for the Scouts, Guides, charity and her church and enjoyed holidays across the country.

Arthur said: "We've had holidays all over the place - I've been able to take them from practically Lands' End to John O' Groats."

Jane added: "We've had lovely holidays and I loved climbing Snowdon."

Jane celebrated her birthday with the rest of her family at a party on Saturday night.