Secret to old age: chastity

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`A LOT OF HASSLE': Clara Meadmore, who turns 105 today, and as she looked in her thirties. She decided at the age of 12 that she did not want to get married. `I have always been busy doing other things .th.th. I've never been bothered about relationships.'

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As a 12-year-old growing up in New Zealand, Clara Meadmore had a hunch she would never have sex.

Today, as she celebrates her 105th birthday in Britain, that belief has been proven right as she makes international headlines for being the world's oldest virgin.

Daily exercise, moderate drinking and not smoking have all been championed for people living long lives, but Miss Meadmore says her secret is abstaining from sex.

"I imagine there is a lot of hassle involved and I have always been busy doing other things. I've never had a boyfriend - I've never been bothered about relationships."

Having emigrated to New Zealand with her family when she was 12, Miss Meadmore abstained from sex during her time here because it was frowned upon unless people were married.

"I made my mind up at the age of 12 never to marry and I've not gone back on that. I've always had lots of platonic friendships with men but never felt the need to go further than that or marry.

"People have asked whether I am a homosexual and the answer is no, I have just never been interested in or fancied having sex."

Miss Meadmore returned to live in Britain during her 20s and before long was "too old" to marry.

She has also never owned a television. Miss Meadmore says she has filled her time with reading, gardening, cooking and listening to the radio.

Her friend and former neighbour Josie Harvey, 72, said: "Maybe never having a man to get under her feet has kept her young all these years. She has her hobbies and her friends and that is all she needs.

"She has always believed in doing things her own way and that has allowed her to live a long life.

"Clara listens to the radio all day long and knows what is going on in the world better than most people in their 30s."

Miss Meadmore will celebrate her birthday with a glass of wine with friends at her nursing home in Cornwall.

Some may say it's never too late, but she says she will not let things get out of control. "I'm hardly likely to get drunk and do something silly at my age."

Her only surviving relatives are two nieces in New Zealand who keep in touch by post.

- © Fairfax NZ News