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Hard work the secret to Moulton Chapel mum's long life




Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home Pinchbeck (2859249)
Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home Pinchbeck (2859249)

There are no magic formulas or special recipes for long life, according to a Moulton Chapel mum-of-one who celebrated her 104th birthday on Tuesday.

Annie Eady, now a resident at Brun Lea Care Home in Pinchbeck, singled out "hard work" as the secret to her living long.

Staff at the care home bought presents and made a cake for Annie, while friends and relatives made sure her birthday was a memorable one.

Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home PinchbeckAlfreda Brand, Annie Eady, Pauline Saunders, Ian Coles (2859255)
Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home PinchbeckAlfreda Brand, Annie Eady, Pauline Saunders, Ian Coles (2859255)

Pauline Saunders, Annie's niece, said: "Annie has only been at Brun Lea for a few weeks and when she first came, she didn't know whether she would be able to settle in.

"But the carers have been very kind to her and she's settled in now."

Annie, who has a son, three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild, shared memories of her youth on Tuesday with her sister Alfreda Brand (92), wife of the late Fred Brand, of the W.H. Brand car dealership in Whaplode Drove.

Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home PinchbeckSister Alfreda Brand, Annie Eady (2859252)
Annie Eady 104th birthday Brun Lea home PinchbeckSister Alfreda Brand, Annie Eady (2859252)

During World War II, Annie worked as a Land Girl picking potatoes before going on to work at a telephone exchange in Whaplode Drove, cycling there and back from her home in Moulton Chapel.

She also spent eight years working at an orphanage in Surrey before moving back to South Holland with her son.

Annie said: "The secret to my long life is hard work, especially true when I was at the orphanage and working on the land before that during World War II.

"I was picking potatoes when all the men went off to war."

Ian Coles, Annie's nephew, said: "Her first husband was a despatch rider in World War II.

"He used to let Annie ride on his once or twice.

"But the irony was that he died in a motorbike accident in the 1950s.

"Then after coming back from Surrey with her son, Annie met her second husband Frank Eady and they lived above a carpenter's shop in Moulton Chapel."

Pauline said: "Annie used to have lovely holidays with Frank and she also collected rainwater which she took and washed her face with.

"Annie used to be very independent and, before she moved to Brun Lea, her home was her castle where she used to knit, do crochets and loved being out in the garden."

Julie Pattinson, activities coordinator at Brun Lea, said: "You can't help but love Annie and she deserves to have all of us running around for her."

Annie Eady was surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday in the same way she was for her 100th birthday in July 2014.

Our sister newspaper, the Lincolnshire Free Press, visited Spalding's Age UK Day Centre to join the celebrations with her son John Pont, his wife Lorraine, their children and grandchildren

At the time, Annie said: "I never thought I'd get to 100 but I'm still enjoying my life.

"At one time, I used to do my own gardening.

"But I can't now, even though I love gardening and I'm better at that than in the house.

"I can't go out like I used to but if I want any help, I know that all I have to do is to ring John up."

He said: "During the war years, my grandad was able to source wood.

"He also did jobs for farmers and if you didn't get paid in cash, you got paid in kind so they were able to live quite well.

"I was born in 1947 but in 1951, my dad died in a motorbike crash in Moulton Chapel.

"Mum had an aunt who lived down south who got her a job at an orphanage.

"I don't remember the early bits, but it was harsh."



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