She doesn’t smoke, she doesn’t drink and she eats ‘whatever she fancies’ – but she says that is not the key to a long healthy life. Meet Jean Aram who turned 100, on November 17. She spoke to Linda Adeyemo.
Great-grandmother Jean Aram has experienced a lot in her lifetime. And with a full century of stories to tell, she sat down with Notts TV at Acer Court Care Home in Nuthall.
Jean grew up with her two siblings in Sherwood and attended Forest Fields infant and Primary School.
Her mother died of pneumonia when Jean was five and her father could not cope with raising three children, so she moved in with her aunt who raised the three siblings.
Jean gained a scholarship from the Girls’ High School which not many girls her age had at the time.
“I was very well educated for the time and I was conscious of it, I was a scholarship girl, I felt it, but the others did not make me feel it,” she said.
At college Jean met her late husband and partner of 50 years, Jack.
“I was on my way to an art exhibition with the college the first time I met him, he asked me out and we went out once but I thought ‘never again’.
“We were in the same maths class and after every lesson he would ask me out and I would turn him down.
“My family will tell you, I often say no until I have things sorted out in my mind.” She added.
His persistence didn’t pay off until her partner at the time went with the army to Singapore.
Jean said: “When he came back from the war he wasn’t the same man as when he left, we both agreed we had grown apart.”
In the meantime Jack had asked Jean to go see a film and when she finally showed up to meet him Jack was nowhere to be found.
“At the time people were getting married with very short notice because of the war, Jack had been asked to be the best man at his best friend’s wedding, he was so upset that I had not received the letter he sent me that I agreed to go out with him just the once.
“That started it, he was a lovely person and we had 50 wonderful years together.”
Jean has always kept herself busy and until last year she was still volunteering at a local school.
“I didn’t want to stop working! That is why I went back to volunteer, I used to go every Monday until last year and before that I taught at Kimberley School.”
Before that Jean was volunteering at a care home, where she cooked a meal for 20 people twice a week.
She was driving a car until the age of 98, when a fall led to a broken hip.
It was during her recovery she moved into Acer Court care home.
“I am very happy in this home, I made the decision to come here all on my own and I love being here.
“I have made lots of friends since coming here, some I met before through church and some new ones, I even got over 200 birthday cards for my birthday.”
One of the most important things in Jean’s life is her family, and she still spends a lot of time with them.
“When I came here to the care home it was an eye-opener to me how lovely my family is, I asked one of the ladies if her son ever comes to visit and she replied saying ‘only when he wants some money’ I thought that was awful.
“I am fortunate to have such a loving family and I am happy.
“The other day after they came round for my birthday one of my grandchildren kissed me as he was saying goodbye and said ‘live longer’!”
Jean gained internet fame after one of her care workers asked to share her story on Facebook.
A picture was posted of Jean asking for a like to celebrate her hundredth birthday.
“I was expecting half a dozen likes or something but it got 13,000. I was staggered, the first comment that came in was from New Zealand.” Jean said.
Faith has played a significant role in Jean’s life, she founded the Nuthall Methodist Church in 1959 and is still very involved with the church.
“I have a lot of faith, I have not always had the right answer, but I realise going back that even though I have not always liked the decisions I made, but they have been the right ones at the time.
“When I was younger you did not have TVs and all that so we spent a lot of time at the church, everything was there, the youth club, the badminton club,” she added.
Jean does not believe that a healthy diet will necessarily lead to a long healthy life, saying: “I never did anything special, I have eaten whatever I fancied.
“I’m a quick eater because when there are eight of us around a table you have got to get one with it if you want a second helping,” she added.
She does have one tip however, for people getting older.
“Every old person should have at least one hobby to keep them busy, mine is knitting but I am fascinated by politics and some programmes on TV.”
At 100, death does not scare Jean, “I know I am going to die.
“I have had a busy life and I am content, I realise in life you get out of it what you put into it.
“I always try to see the good in people and look on the bright side of things.
“I look upon here as the last chapter in my life, and I have had a happy life.”
