Elsie Steele
| Elsie Steele | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
6 January 1899 Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England |
| Died |
18 October 2010 (aged 111 years, 285 days) Repton, Derbyshire, England |
Elsie May Steele (née Fletcher; 6 January 1899 – 18 October 2010)[1] was, at age 111 years, 285 days, the oldest person in the United Kingdom and the oldest person in England following the death of 111-year-old Annie Turnbull on 3 September 2010.
Steele was born at Midway near Swadlincote as one of nine children born to Joseph and Bertha Fletcher. After leaving school at 13, she worked as a housekeeper in Leicester. She married her first husband Reginald Hackett in 1920, and had two children; Trevor Hackett (deceased), and Beryl Fairbrother. Steele later worked in a munitions factory in near Burton-upon-Trent. When she was 69 years old, she married her second husband Wallace Steele.[2]
At age 108 Steele remarked "I plan on staying around for a bit yet. Old age is golden and I intend to make the most of it. I’m in good shape. I love to walk, the staff are always wondering where I’ve got to".[2] When asked her secret to a long life, she credited hard work, avoid beer, and to not swear. She also said that she tries to concentrate on the "happy times".[2]
On her 110th birthday, Steele recited a poem by Pam Ayres about the joys of old age.[3]
She had 3 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.[3]
She died on 18 October 2010 in Repton.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Validated living supercentenarians The Gerontology Research Group lists persons as 'living' whose age has been validated and confirmed to be alive within the past year.
- 1 2 3 Bull, Keith (2006-01-07). "Elsie's into her third century". Burton Mail. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- 1 2 "Happy birthday for grand old ladies Elsie and Edith". This Is Derbyshire. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ↑ "Tears as Elsie dies, aged 111 and 285 days". Burton Mail. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.