Hailsham 100 year old shares the secret to a long and healthy life

Jean Marley who celebrated with her friends and family at Bowes House Care Home on February 10, attributed her long life to a daily glass of sherry, balanced out by plenty of gardening.

Helena Barrow, the home manager at the care home said, “We always like to make an occasion of birthdays – particularly when it’s such an important milestone.

“Jean brings such a lovely energy to the home.

“Her gardening knowledge is second to none, and she always has plenty of tips to share to help our flowers grow stronger.

“It was clear from the smile on Jean’s face that she had a lovely time – as we all did - celebrating her big day. We’re looking forward to celebrating many more milestones!”

Jean, who was born in Manchester and also lived in London, Devon and Sussex, is a lifelong gardening enthusiast. Alongside countryside walks and hearty pub lunches, she spends her time admiring flowers and visiting gardens with her daughter Susan and granddaughter Heather.

She worked as a shorthand typist for a company which supplied food for British troops and met her husband, Colin, in 1947. Together they had two daughters. One, lives nearby in Sussex and the other lives in South Africa, a place Jean would regularly visit. A member of a twinning society in her younger days, she would also make regular trips to Normandy, in France.

Bowes House, the care home in which Jean currently lives, provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as shorter term respite care for its community of residents.

Designed to allow residents to fully enjoy their lives, the 90 bedroom home comes equipped with its own cafe, salon and cinema, with plenty of indoor and outdoor recreational space.

Alongside birthdays, the home offers an extensive activity programme, which keeps residents active with events, group activities, days out and more.

To find out more about the care home and meet the team, visit their website or Facebook page.