6:30am Thursday 9th July 2009
BIRTHDAY girl Mabel Drake says a combination of good clean living and hard work has helped her to reach the ripe old age of 100.
The centenarian, pictured right and below in her 20s, celebrated in style with champagne and cake surrounded by friends and family.
Mabel who has lived in Southampton all her life, has two daughters Sylvia Pothecary, 74, and Norma Codling, 64.
She also has four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Her husband Harry sadly died eight years ago aged 93.
“I think in life you need to take things as they come and work hard,” said Mabel who attended St John’s primary school in the High Street.
After leaving school she had several jobs including working as an usherette at Southampton’s Gaumont Theatre, The Cadena café in the city centre and The Royal Hotel near the docks.
Mable, who now lives near her eldest daughter in Shirley, said she enjoys pottering around her home and watching television’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Echo picture right by Joanna Mann. Order no: 8849394
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