A BARNSLEY woman who has lived through 20 Prime Ministers and World War Two celebrated her 100th birthday on New Year’s Day and she believes the secret to a long life is a glass of whisky every night.
Joan Harrison, of Smithies, was born on January 1, 1924.
Her first school was Lamb Lane before moving onto Littleworth Lane.
At the age of 14 she left school to work as a house maid for Hamshaw and Wagstaff Solicitors.
She then moved onto Mr Shaw’s Farm, next to Carlton Church a job she loved as the Shaw family treated her like one of their own.
She then met her husband, Granville, at the Barnsley Fair on May Day Green in 1940.
Their favourite holiday destination to visit was Blackpool.
Her son, 73-year-old Roy, said: “From the farm she went into the army in 1941 to work in the field kitchens in Pontefract and then onto Chester.
“She started her family in 1943, living with her in-laws on Park Road.
“They then moved to Union Street in Barnsley before going to Newhill Road in Smithies in 1954.
“She raised her family there and still lives there to this day.”
Joan has six children, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren five generations.
Roy added: “She’s still well and she’s all there.
“Right up until her 60s she was able to do the splits that’s something she’s always been proud of.
“She’s got a good sense of humour too.
“She’d say that the secret to a long life is a glass of whisky on a night.
“She’s never been a big drinker but she did that every night from her late 50s until last year.”
