Myra set to hit the bar for her 103rd birthday

JONATHAN CAMERON/Manawatu Standard

CELEBRATING: At 103, Myra Letts has not let her love for fashion, jewellery and a good time go.

Relevant offers

Myra Letts will make a trip to popular night-spot High Flyers bar for her 103rd birthday today.

Not to hit the dance floor, but because it is the only building in town the same age as her.

Born in Papatoetoe, Auckland on February 4, 1906, Mrs Letts will have a joint celebration this weekend with her daughter Bev Stone who is turning 70.

Mrs Lett said she does not know what the secret is to living to 103, but has treated herself over the years with a love of fashion, jewellery, sweet food, and her weekly read of Australian Women's Weekly magazine. An early television owner, she has followed Coronation Street religiously since it started.

"I really lived for Coro, everybody watched it."

As a girl she went to school at Otahuhu Primary school and Epsom Girls' Grammar, before working as a nurse in Auckland Hospital and then Epsom Hospital.

The happiest year of her life was in 1932 when she married Gilbert John in Otahuhu.

"He was a nice looking boy, I was very lucky."

"My aunt made the dresses, they were really beautiful, lovely Thai silk."

They went to Rotorua for three days for their honeymoon.

"Everyone went to Rotorua at that time."

In 1940, the pair were separated for six years while Gill went to war.

When he arrived back they bought a shop in Onehunga in Auckland.

She also spent time working as a New Zealand Perpetual Forest office worker.

"I never actually saw the forest until I moved to Palmerston North."

After her husband died about 23 years ago, she moved to Palmerston North's Rose A Lea rest home to be closer to her 13 grand- and great-grandchildren.

The family will celebrate with her this weekend, but she does not want any presents.

"I've got everything.

"All I want is to see everybody and have a piece of cake."

- © Fairfax NZ News