One of the Oldest Women in the UK Believes the Secret to a Long Life Is Avoiding Men
Celebrating her 109th birthday, Jessie Gallan, who was the oldest woman in Scotland, had everyone curious about her secret to longevity. When asked, she surprised care workers with her straightforward advice.
According to Jessie, she owes her long life to staying away from men and starting each day with a warm bowl of porridge.
Jessie Gallan’s Secret to a Long Life
Born on a farm in Kintore, Scotland in 1906, Jessie grew up with five sisters and one brother. Their humble upbringing saw them sharing a straw-filled mattress. At the young age of 13, Jessie left home to work as a milkmaid before moving on to help in a farm kitchen and later working at a hotel frequented by the Queen and Queen Mother.
Eventually, Jessie moved into Crosby House, a residential care home for seniors. Gillian Bennett, one of her support workers, described Jessie: “Jessie is a lovely woman. She has her best friend here, Sarah Jane, and they are always together. She enjoys music, exercise classes, and is very independent. She’s always walking about.”
From these words, it’s clear that staying active and social was also part of Jessie’s long life. Although she passed away in March 2015, her unusual secret to a long life still resonates.
Jessie once shared: “My secret to a long life has been staying away from men. They’re just more trouble than they’re worth.
“I also made sure I got plenty of exercise, ate a nice warm bowl of porridge every morning, and never got married.”
This candid piece of advice rings true for many, but Jessie’s secret also has a nutritional angle…
“I like my porridge. I have all my life.”
Jessie’s 109th Birthday Celebrations
On January 2, Jessie celebrated her birthday at the Crosby House care home in Aberdeen with lunch and a slice of cake. Senior support worker Rebecca Streeter said: “Jessie still takes part in the group activities and likes her exercise.
“She attends all the concerts and enjoys her church on Sundays. She has obviously led a very healthy lifestyle.”
Jessie became Scotland’s oldest woman following the passing of Clare Dawson from Glasgow in 2013, who also lived to 109.
The oldest living person in the UK is Ethel Lang, aged 114, from Barnsley.
