AN “incredible” Peterborough woman celebrated her 105th birthday at the weekend - with the best wishes of her 108-year-old sister.
Marjorie Ruddle celebrated the landmark on Saturday with a tea party with family and friends at the Park House Nursing Home in Park Crescent, Peterborough, where she has lived for just over a year.
Among her birthday presents were letters from the Queen and from Iain Duncan Smith, the secretary of state for work and pensions.
Marjorie’s family have contacted the Guinness Book of Records in an attempt to find out whether Marjorie and her sister Dorothy, who is 108 and lives in Stamford, are the oldest sisters in the country.
Marjorie said: “I don’t think I have a secret to living for so long and if you asked my sister she would probably say the same.
“All I know is that I’ve tried to stay healthy and active and have never smoked a cigarette.
“It’s lovely to have all my friends and family with me, they’ve helped to keep me going all these years as well.”
Marjorie, who was born in Northampton back in 1907, has three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
After moving to Peterborough in the 1930s Marjorie worked in the surgery of her husband James Robertson Wills who worked as a doctor in Peterborough.
Mr Wills died from an illness in 1949 and a year later Marjorie married architect Alan Ruddle.
Marjorie added: “Peterborough has changed a lot during my time here, not all for the better.
“But I’ve had a great life and met some wonderful people here.”
Marjorie’s daughter Pat Comber, from Rutland, said: “My mum is an incredible woman and my family is very proud of her.
“She has kept herself busy over the years with various hobbies and they helped to keep her on the ball.
“She loved playing bridge, gardening, tennis and travelling.
“She also still enjoys using her hands to keep busy with things like sewing and embroidery.”
Mrs Comber added: “We have written to the Guinness Book of Records to see if Marjorie and Dorothy are the oldest sisters in Britain.
“It would be amazing if they are, we would have to have another celebration too.”
Sue Corrans, a senior carer at the park care home, added: “Marjorie is so on the ball and lively.
“She likes having a bit of banter with the nurses and keeping them on their toes at all times.
“But I once heard her say that she thought the nurses here were wonderful, well the feeling is mutual.”
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