Avoid hospitals and 'eat plenty' says 108-year-old fish n' chip lover

This advice comes from Huddersfield’s oldest living person, Ivy Clegg, who is 108 and has made it her mission in life to avoid hospitals and ‘eat plenty’.

Refusing to break a habit of a lifetime, Ivy Clegg tucked into a generous helping of fish and chip to celebrate her 108th birthday at Aden Court Care Home in Huddersfield.

The supercentenarian has always eaten lots, never skips meals and only made a trip to the hospital to treat cataracts, many years ago.

Her daughter in law, Linda Clegg said: “She would say ‘eat your dinner and avoid hospitals’. She loves her dinner. She always eats lots and always has done – three meals a day.

“She keeps away from hospitals as well. She's only ever been in to have her cataracts done and that was back when they used to keep you in for that.”

Surrounded by three generations of her family at the care home she has lived in for two years, Ivy Clegg had enough energy to have a laugh and play a few rounds of dominoes.

Ivy Clegg was born on in 1910 and lived in Almondbury - a village two miles down the road from Huddersfield town centre for most of her life.

She left school at 14 to work at Sykes and Tunnicliffe rugmakers but quit her job after marrying her husband Clifford in 1933.

When Clifford died over 40 years ago, Ivy moved into a bungalow at the age of 80.

At 80-years-old Ivy became a carer for her father Arthur Leonard, who lived to be 100-years-old.

Ivy also outlived her own son Peter, who passed away three years ago, aged 74.

But at age 100, Ivy was “still going on holiday to Blackpool”, her daughter-in-law said. At the age of 106, Ivy moved into Aden Court Care Home, When asked on her 107th birthday, how old she felt, Ivy said: “Not so old.”

Lisa Boyd, home manager at Aden Court Care Home, run by Hill Care Group said: “Ivy is a real character and loved by everyone at Aden Court.

“What an amazing milestone to reach.

“When we asked her how she wanted to celebrate, she asked for her favourite fish and chips and a game of dominoes.”

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