As you get older it’s ok to sit down now and then, but make sure you don’t stay down

As you get older it’s ok to sit down now and then, but make sure you don’t stay down

13 September 2023

A STRANGFORD woman has celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends.

Tilly Crea was born on September 7, 1923, in Dervoc, Co Antrim, and was one of a family of five, with her sister Margaret (96) still living in Australia.

While celebrating just one of her several birthday parties, which was organised by the Inverbrena Group at the The Lobster Pot in Strangford yesterday afternoon, Mrs Crea revealed some of her secrets to living a long and happy life.

“You just have to keep going,” she said. “As you get older, you get slower and it’s ok to sit down now and then, but make sure you don’t stay down.

“I’ve always liked being active – my sister and I were always the active ones.” 

Mrs Crea reflected on her life, from her childhood to meeting the love of her life.

“I had a wonderful childhood,” she said. “We didn’t have the toys that the young ones have nowadays, but we never wanted for anything and we were always outdoors playing.”

When World War Two broke out, Mrs Crea enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and was posted to the airfield at Bishopscourt where she served as a staff cook.

It was a turning point in Tilly’s life as it was there that she met her future husband, Willie.

“When I was with the WAAF, I would get very homesick,” she said. “I’d go and pet some of the horses down by the stables with some of the other girls and the owner would invite us into his home for a cup of tea. I went in and saw the owner’s son, who was very shy and barely spoke a word which we all found a bit funny.”

The young man was Willie and while it wasn’t love at first sight, the two began to get to know each other and soon became an item.

They got married in 1946 when Tilly was 23 and Willie a year older. They had three children, John, Peter and Barbara.

In 1950, the couple moved to the Castleward Road, near Ballyculter, where they established their farm and where Annie continues to live with her grandson Christopher, his wife Amanda and their two children, Ivy and William.

Mrs Crea described the farm as a “wreck and ruin” when they first found it.

“We started off with 11 cows and a few pigs and hens, but in those days if you could produce milk, a farm would pay for itself,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Crea were married for 64 years until Willie passed away in 2010, following coronary issues.

“I had a wonderful life with him,” Mrs Crea continued. “We had a great marriage, a great life together and I still miss him very much – it hasn’t been the same without him.”

Even at the age of 100, Mrs Crea still keeps active by doing tasks around the farm and in the large garden, as well as cooking lunch every day for her grandson and his family.

Although having problems with her eyesight, she has enjoyed recent birthday celebrations with her family, which include six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

“I didn’t want any birthday parties or presents, but having a party on Thursday at the farm was brilliant and it was so lovely seeing family from Scotland.

“I was able to speak to my sister Margaret in Australia and although I couldn’t see her, it was lovely to hear her voice.”

Reflecting on the past 100 years, she added: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my life, and everyone has been so kind and good to me. I can’t thank my family enough for everything they have done for me.”