A 100-year-old woman identified as Jo Allan has revealed her secret to a long and fulfilled life.
UK Metro reports that Allan has 12 children, 37, grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
Surrounded by family and honoured for her war service, the landmark birthday celebrant disclosed that, ‘There isn’t really a secret, but I do think it’s important to have a happy frame of mind and to try not to worry.’
Allan, from Middlesbrough, Teesside, is one of the UK’s oldest residents and was one of thousands of female workers who worked at a munitions factory.
Her job, based in Aycliffe in County Durham, was to check for bullets with faults during the war.
During a small family gathering on her 100th birthday, Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston called in to make a surprise presentation on behalf of the council.
Jo was presented with a certificate and brooch officially recognising her as an Aycliffe Angel and thanking her for her contribution to the victory in Europe.
Preston says: ‘These women were completely uncelebrated and unrecognised for too long but this is being put right now because we should tell the story about the efforts people like Jo made supporting the brave soldiers who were doing the fighting.
‘I’m sure the incredible work Jo and others did saved many lives. It’s time to acknowledge the efforts of all the Aycliffe Angels during the war that helped change the course of European history for the better.’
