Pat Kew celebrates her 100th birthday (From York Press)

Pat Kew celebrates her 100th birthday

8:48am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News

GOOD home cooking, a daily stroll and the occasional drop of whisky are the ingredients to a happy, long life for Pat Kew who celebrates her 100th birthday tomorrow, writes Nadia Jefferson-Brown.

Born in Kirkbymoorside on St Patrick’s Day in 1913, Pat was the youngest of eight children whose father, the village barber, died when she was just two.

She met her future husband, Harry Kew, in York, through a mutual friend, and they married in 1940. Harry, who was one of 12 children and from Acomb, was a railway worker, while Pat worked as a sales assistant at Boughs of Acomb, a fashion shop, until she was nearly 70.

They spent their married life living together in York until Harry died 22 years ago.

The couple had a daughter, Judy, with whom Pat lives off Tadcaster Road.

Judy said: “She enjoyed her work, as well as swimming, cooking and reading. Even now she goes out for a walk every day – weather permitting.”

Pat told The Press: “I think the secret to my life is good home cooking and a little tipple every so often of whisky and lemonade – maybe about three times a week. I never smoked and I don’t swear.” She said she had enjoyed swimming, cooking and reading when she was younger, and her happiest memories focus on family times and special occasions such as the New Year’s Eve dance in Kirkbymoorside when “all the gentry use to come”. She also remained very close to her schoolfriend Cath Body, who became Cath Wood, until she died when she was 90.

She is celebrating her birthday with her daughter and friends, visiting from Ireland and Switzerland.