BERTHA IS 100
Party spans the ages
Mrs Bertha Arnold continued her family's record for long life when she
celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday.
Mrs Arnold's father and three brothers and sisters all lived until well into
their 90s — and she looked after herself at her Geddington home until
earlier this year.
She now lives at Orchard House old people's home Barton Seagrave, where
friends and five generations of her family celebrated her birthday with a party
yesterday
The Mayor and Mayoress of Kettering, Jim and Brenda Cosby, also dropped in to
wish her well and she received telemessages from the Queen and Social Services
Minister Norman Fowler.
Mrs Arnold was born in Desborough and married Pipewell farmer William Arnold,
who died shortly after their diamond wedding anniversary in 1969.
They farmed at Pipewell until 1931 when they ran a dairy and milk round at
Great Bowden, near Market Harborough. They retired in about 1946 and later moved
to a flat in Geddington.
Mrs Arnold said: "I have never smoked and only ever drink a little, but I
have always believed in good food and clean living."
The couple had three sons, Fred, Ralph and Philip, but Ralph has died. They
also have four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and great-great-grandaughter Angela
who will be one next week.
Mrs Irene Holtom, owner of Orchard House and a qualified nurse, said: "Mrs
Arnold is bright as a button and very popular with the 10 other residents. She
can no longer read because of her eyesight, but she is very chatty."
from: the
Evening Telegraph
November 1986.
Bertha was
the daughter of
Henry Marlow and
Harriett Letts.