Toasting a century with sherry

Adam Hewitt • Published 16 Sep 2009 08:00 0 Comments

A FORMER bakery assistant says it is sherry, not bread, that has kept her fit for 100 years.

Phyllis Payne, of Palmerstone Road, Earley, celebrated the landmark birthday on Tuesday with her family around her, as cards, flowers and well-wishers poured through the door.

She said: "I've had people popping in all day, even my doctor and his wife which was a lovely surprise.

"It was wonderful getting my card from The Queen - it's one of the new ones, she's wearing blue, she's been in yellow for the past five years I've been told by my friend."

Phyllis was born and bred in Reading, and has lived in Earley since 1989, including the past few years with son Roland and his wife Rosa. She worked at her parents' bakery in Addington Road, getting up at 7am to open the shop and mix ice cream in the summer, then married husband Gordon, a driver, in 1934. He died in 1977.

She has another son, Gerald, who lives in Tilehurst, grandchildren Catherine and Valerie, and two great grandchildren.

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