Virgin, 105, says celibacy is the key to long life

London, Oct 10 (IANS) A British woman who will celebrate her 105th birthday Saturday said that her celibate life has been the key to her longevity.

Clara Meadmore, who was born in Glasgow, and lived in Canada and New Zealand, before settling in the southwest British county of Cornwall some 40 years ago, said she never had time for a family and lived alone until going into care, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

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'I've always had lots of platonic friendships with men but never felt the need to go further than that or marry,' she said, adding that she had never had any interest in sex.

'I imagine there is a lot of hassle involved and I have always been busy doing other things,' she said, underlining that the sex-less life perhaps is the key to her long life.

'When I was a girl you only had sex with your husband and I never married. I grew up in an era where little girls were to be seen and not heard so I had to learn to stand up for myself and earn my own living,' she said.

'Some men don't like that in a woman and before long I was too old to marry anyway.' said Meadmore, who lives in Perran Bay nursing home in Perranporth, Cornwall.

Meadmore, a retired secretary, who enjoys cooking, gardening and reading, saved up her salary and spent the money on walking tours in many parts of Britain in the 1920s and 1930s.

Josie Harvey, who knows Meadmore for 30 years, said: 'She was fiercely independent and believed in doing things her own way, and that allowed her to live a long life.

'She has kept a great interest in what is going on in the world and she is a wonderful source of information.'

Meadmore is due to celebrate her 105th birthday Saturday at a party at the care where she stays.