Centenarian Celina Agnes Penn delivers her invitations. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
REMARKABLE Celina Agnes Penn walked miles to personally deliver invitations to her 100th birthday celebrations.
Not deterred by the lack of buses in the area, Mrs Penn, of St Helens, walked to Bembridge and Seaview to deliver invitations to friends, ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) celebrations at the Yarbridge Inn, Brading.
Only last month, the County Press told how people living near Mrs Penn’s area of the Island were among those living longest in the country.
She said: "I’ve always been used to walking so I thought nothing of it.
"Some people tell me I am remarkable, I just tell them to live off fresh fruit and vegetables and they will be the same. I had a lovely birthday and I have a room full of flowers."
Born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Mrs Penn used to work as a drapery assistant and later in hotel bars.
She moved to the IW in 1998, a year after her husband of 59 years, Reginald, died, to be closer to her daughter, Valerie.
Mrs Penn has two grandchildren, three great grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
Today, she enjoys going out and is a member of St Helens ladies’ Thursday club.
Her daughter said: "She is always out and about. I can’t keep up with her, she is fitter than me."
For her birthday, on Friday last week, Mrs Penn had lunch with her family at Fakenham Farm, St Helens.
Reporter: mattw@iwcpmail.co.uk