Good friends keep Amy smiling for 100 years

The Arden House resident, who will turn 100 tomorrow, is looking forward to a celebration with her best friends.

Born in Coventry on March 3 1912, Mrs Townsend can remember seeing her two uncles in uniform during the First World War and treasures many other happier memories besides.

She said: “I know I married the right man and I have found some lovely friends. I have played a lot of golf and bridge, which has helped with my arithmatic. That has helped me to stay alert. I feel very healthy.”

After leaving school, Mrs Townsend, one of five children, trained as a shorthand typist and book-keeper and went on to work at a motorcycle manufacturer. The company gave her a motorbike on her 18th birthday.

She married Eric Townsend when she was 22 and kept the accounts for his building firm.

Although registered blind and requiring a hearing aid, Mrs Townsend continues to manage her own financial affairs and only stopped cooking her own meals when she moved into Arden House 18 months ago.

She was also a keen golfer for 40 years and more recently developed a love for listening to Pavarotti.

Her friend Ted Mazurek, who, along with his wife Pam, has known Mrs Townsend for 18 years, said: “Amy has always had a liking for salt and she used to add a lot of it to her food. Changing attitudes have meant that has had to stop, but look at her - she has lived to 100 despite all that salt!

“Amy still sorts out her own financial affairs and she does her own shopping. We take her out twice a week.

“What keeps her going is her regular outings and meeting her old friends often.”

Mrs Townsend added: “I am very, very lucky to have Ted and Pam as my friends. They are the most wonderful friends I could ever have asked for.”