Birthday celebrations for Win, 103

9:37am Saturday 19th July 2008

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BROWN bread and honey continues to be the secret formula for long life for one of the town's oldest residents.

Winifred Brown, or Win to her friends, raised a glass of sherry to toast her 103rd birthday with Swindon Mayor Steve Wakefield and many of her friends yesterday.

But the great grandmother says her daily routine of grapefruit and a slice of toast with honey has a lot to do with her longevity.

"I have grapefruit and brown bread and honey every day for breakfast, that's my secret," said Win at the party in her honour at Fessey House, Brookdene, in Haydon Wick.

Win was born in Highgate in north London and after leaving school at the age of 14 trained as a seamstress at Marshall & Snelgrove in Oxford Street, making gowns for society ladies.

After getting married to her husband Leslie in 1929, the couple moved to Haydon Wick during the war.

When their only child Janet started school at Rodbourne Cheney Primary School, Win got a job as a dinner lady and stayed at the school for 25 years.

And the school's deputy headteacher at the time, May Arthur, was among dozens of well wishers at her birthday part yesterday.

"I have got lots of cards and I'm saving them and all the envelopes so I can give the stamps to a charity that helps the blind," said Win, who is herself registered blind.

"I don't feel any different, but people have been very kind. I've had lots of visitors."