LAUGHTER, friendship and freshly cooked food are the secret to a happy long life, says Olive Denton.
The great gran celebrated her 100th birthday, sharing precious memories.
The retired school cook still prepares all her own meals and looks after herself at home in Middlewich.
Son Steve said: "Mum has a great sense of humour and loves people. She is a gregarious person.
"She hasn't had time for hobbies, she'd much rather be larking around with other people.
"Mum has had quite an eventful life."
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Olive and late husband Bruce had an unusual start to their life together.
"When they were first married they lived in a second hand bus," said Steve. "It was just after the war and no houses were available so they parked the bus in their friend's garden and lived in it for three years, until it fell apart."
The couple, married for 60 years, met when they were both doing war work at a valve inspector radio factory making parts for radar equipment.
"She is a very cheerful person and was always good at cooking," said Steve."She was a school cook for many years and then ran a bed and breakfast.
"She used to put up three oil workers. When the rest of the team saw their take out lunch they asked her if she could do theirs as well. She ended up doing 10 lunches every day."
Mum-of-two Olive loves travelling and enjoyed many coach holidays to Scotland and across the UK.
"She used to go in the car with dad and then continued going on trips with her friends," said Steve. "She enjoys a laugh and has a great sense of fun.
"She considers herself lucky to have lived so long. She has always eaten well because she is a cook. She doesn't drink or smoke and likes to meet new people and build relationships."
Olive is currently recuperating from minor surgery at The Manor Care Home.
Kat Steele, from care home, said: "In the short time that Olive has been living with us here, we have all grown incredibly fond of her.
"She is always happy to pass on some of her pearls of wisdom and has an incredibly positive outlook on life that inspires us all. "We hope that Olive continues to live life to the fullest."
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