Family ‘is recipe for a long and happy life’
FAMILY is the recipe for a long and happy life according to the latest islander to celebrate their 100th birthday.
Audrey ‘Bunty’ Pearson had three daughters, who gave her four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
She was surrounded by 60 of her family and friends on her big day on Saturday, including some who had come all the way from Australia.
‘I don’t have a secret really to living this long,’ she said. ‘Just try to be friendly to all you meet and keep your family close. Don’t lose touch with family, even if you don’t agree all the time.’
The new centenarian still lives independently in her own flat, tries to go for a walk every day, and visits the gym at Beau Sejour once a week for a one-hour workout.
Born in Batley in Yorkshire in 1924, Mrs Pearson moved with her family to Guernsey in 1961 after her husband took on a role as the police dentist.
After the move Mrs Pearson ran the Valnord Hotel for 20 years. The building in Mount Durand, St Peter Port, has since been converted into flats.
Her daughter Andy had travelled with family from Melbourne.
‘We still speak two or three times on the phone every week,’ she said.
‘She loves to know what all he grandchildren are doing.’
Her daughter Lindsay paid tribute to her mum’s hard work throughout their childhood.
‘She made us independent and gave us three girls all the tools we needed to make our own way in the world,’ said.
‘There are not too many people who live to be 100 – it was really hard to get hold of the balloons.’
