Secret to long life? Be happysays Beattie...

Delightful Beattie Taylor celebrated her special birthday last Monday with three generations of her family.

Daughter Pearl Stewart, granddaughter Emma Forrest, and great grandaughter Beth Forrest all joined Beattie at Tullaghmurry Fold in Portstewart for the celebration.

Quizzed on what the secret to long life was, Beattie revealed it was “just being happy” — but then added that her happiness had been thanks to her marriage to her late husband Ernest, who died a number of years ago.

Reflecting on her milestone birthday, Beattie said: ““I was married at 24 and never had a cross word from my husband.

“He never once contradicted me,” she joked.

“The couple had been chemists and had stores in Londonderry and Portstewart through the years.”

When Beattie was born Woodrow Wilson was the American president and troops were mounting the August Offensive in Gallipoli during the First World War.

At the time a pint of milk cost a penny and women yet did not have the right to vote.

Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call from New York to California.

And on her 100th birthday Beattie had been living for 36,527 days.

Happy and content to be living on the north coast, Beattie was especially thrilled to receive a treasures message from the Queen.

“There was a lovely photo of the Queen in the card.

“She congratulated me and wished me every happiness in the future.”