A resident at a North Wales Housing extra care scheme is celebrating a remarkable milestone this week as she turns 100 years old.
Hazel, who lives at Llys y Coed in Llanfairfechan, joined an elite club of centenarians in Wales on Thursday 7th August. Born in Bangor in 1925, Hazel shared some fond memories and tips ahead of her milestone birthday.
“I don’t feel any different than I did 10 years ago!” she says with a smile.
When asked for the secret to a long life, Hazel revealed her unique daily routine:
“Crystallised ginger – I’ve had three pieces every morning for years! I’ve never driven, never smoked, and I don’t drink. I walked everywhere growing up. Even during the war, buses stopped at 9pm so you had to walk.”
Hazel grew up in upper Bangor near the university, where her father worked on the railway for over five decades.
“Everything was close by, and I enjoyed growing up there,” she said.
In 1940, when the war came, Hazel trained at night school and took everything in her stride. She later moved to Manchester in 1958 with her husband, before returning to Bangor for retirement.
Hazel has always had a passion for food and “experimental cooking”, saying:
“If I saw a different recipe or something new, I wanted to try it! Whatever I’ve done, I’ve been happy.”
Her advice to younger generations?
“Get into everything that’s going. If something new comes up, try it. Life is about trying and finding out what you enjoy.”
Hazel has been a resident at the North Wales Housing scheme since 2023,and staff and fellow residents joined with her and her family on Thursday at a party to mark the momentous occasion.
North Wales Housing, which runs the Llys y Coed scheme, is proud to support independent living for older people through its extra care and sheltered housing schemes across the region.
Feature image: Hazel with her son – David Michael
