100-year-old Doris Justice’s secret of a long life – a tot of brandy in her morning tea (From York Press)

100-year-old Doris Justice’s secret of a long life – a tot of brandy in her morning tea

9:09am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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A WOMAN born and bred in York was today celebrating her 100th birthday.

Doris Justice, who formerly lived off Cemetery Road but is now a resident at Haxby Hall Residential Home, was holding a party attended by 60 family and friends to mark the special milestone.

Her daughter, Diane Conway, said: “Mum has always held the family together and kept us in touch. We are all very excited about having the family together to mark this special occasion.”

She was born Doris Thorpe in Fulford, York, and attended Castlegate School until the age of 14 when she left to work at Terry’s Chocolate Factory.

In 1937 she married Walter Justice at Melbourne Methodist Chapel in the Fishergate area and gave birth to six children, David, who sadly died aged three, Jacqueline, now 68, John, 67, Carol, 64, Diane, 61, and Kevin, 60. She has eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, the eldest being David, 23, and youngest, Bohdi, nine months.

Doris was widowed in November 1961, but has led an active life, regularly driving and sequence dancing well into her nineties.

She was a regular church-goer at the Methodist chapel, and always had a saying: “Isn’t God good to me.”

Her secret to a long life is keeping family and friends close and a teaspoon of brandy in her morning cup of tea.

Former neighbour Mike Laycock said: “Doris would always smile out of her window at us and the children. It is amazing that she has reached her 100th birthday and I wish her many happy returns.”