The secret to living to 100 is to think positively and be careful about what you put in your body, an inspiring Devizes woman has said.

Georgina Newman rode a horse until she was 80 and still lives independently in the Old Park area.

Known locally as ‘Rennie Queen on the Park’, she celebrated her 100th birthday on November 2 with a surprise party thrown by her son.

She said: “If I had some new legs, I would be running around the garden. I think it's absolutely fantastic that I've reached that age.

“What you've got to do with my life is think positive. Never think negative. If you do, that's when things go wrong. You think positive all the time. 

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“I do get pain in my legs, but I think, oh, well, never mind, there's another day tomorrow. And that is the way to go on.”

“Looking back on my life, I have done everything I wanted to do. Everything apart from driving and that was because I was keeping horses.”

Georgina was 15 when WW2 started, when she worked in a parachute factory. After the war she joined St James’ Hospital, a shut geriatric hospital now occupied by St James GP Surgery on Gains Lane.

She recalled: “We didn't have much money, but, it's so different today, so different. I'm glad I was born when I was born.

“My mum used to say the same thing. She would say, you children know nothing about it. You ought to have been here when I was young. And I'm saying the same thing now.”Georgina Newman with her son Colin Newman at home in Old Park Devizes on her 100th birthday (Image: Trevor Porter)

At the hospital, Georgina remembers it was remarkable if someone lived to 60 - now she and all her nine siblings have lived to over 90.

Apart from a cleaner Georgina lives independently, waking at 5.30am and doing her cooking and shopping in Chippenham every week.

She said: “I count my blessings because I've always lived in a nice house, I think that helps. I lost my husband 29 years ago, and my son wanted me to go to a flat. But as soon as I lose my independence, I don't want to be here anymore.”

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She likes to paint and read, explaining: “It takes three hours to make my bed, have a shower, get my breakfast and wash it all up.

“You know, by the time I've got my life organised as to what I'm going to do each day, it's time for bed.”

This is helped by her having no major health issues other than her blood pressure.Georgina Newman known to locals as Rennie Queen of the Park , at home in Old Park Devizes on her 100th birthday (Image: Trevor Porter)

“That is something to say about being brought up on bread and dripping,” she remarked.

“The secret to getting to 100 is don’t abuse your body. Because if you start abusing your body like drinking, smoking and things like that, you're asking for trouble.”

She was thrown a surprise party by her son, Colin Newman. She said: “At my age, I'm spoiled by everyone.”

Despite her asking to not have a party, she “quite enjoyed it” and received around 40 cards. This included a telegram from the King - “It was just an ordinary card, you know”, said Georgina.

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She was well-known in the local neighbourhood for her daily walks until she was 93.

She said: “I used to leave home, go out the road, go round the park, and they used to say, here's Queen Rennie coming.

“I think that I've got many friends still, but of course, a lot of my friends have gone to the Unknown.

“I don't think about the Unknown because I think, well, I’ve had a good life. My husband said, ‘I’ll always come back’, and I see him in my dreams sometimes. They’re all with me in spirit.”

“As long as the brain cells are going, I hope I will go on a bit longer.”

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