A 100-year-old Northern woman has revealed that she believes the key to living a long life is not talking to “strange men”.
Olive Westerman celebrated a milestone that not many get to achieve this week – her 100th birthday.
The centenarian – who is a much-loved resident at Deewater Grange care home in Chester – was born in South Kirby in Yorkshire in 1923, and has lived a fulfilling life from starting out working as a nursery nurse for children during the war for nine months, before she met her husband Sam at the local church she’d been going to all her life.
Olive and Sam were married soon after meeting, and the lovebirds when on to share a “lifetime of happy memories” together before he sadly passed away.
The nature of Sam’s job as a clerk and a writer meant that the couple had the chance to travel all over the world.
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This even included them getting to call Singapore home for three years.
But despite everything she has been lucky to do in her lifetime, managing 100 laps around the sun is no doubt one of Olive’s biggest achievements, and so, the team of carers at Deewater Grange decided to go “above and beyond” to ensure she had a “celebration to remember”.
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As a lover of travel, Olive got to take a trip to Inglewood Manor in Ellesmere Port to celebrate her special day, and she was joined by all her fellow residents at the care home for something that she had never gotten the chance to experience before – a private “high tea”.
The home also continued the tradition that Olive’s late husband Sam began, and gifted her a bottle of Estee Lauder perfume on her birthday.
100-year-old Northern woman says the key to a long life is not talking to ‘strange men’ / Credit: Deewater Grange Care Home
“Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Olive’s birthday, and she was particularly pleased to enjoy a very special afternoon tea,”
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“Here at Deewater Grange, we always strive to make an occasion of birthdays, and Olive’s 100th was no exception,” Sally Cooper, home manager at Deewater Grange, told Cheshire Live.
“Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating, and Olive was particularly pleased to enjoy a very special afternoon tea.
“Olive has been living at Deewater Grange for just over a year now, and the home simply wouldn’t be the same without her. Olive’s wonderful outlook on life never fails to make us smile and her quick wit definitely keeps us on our toes.”
But what exactly does Olive credit her long life to then? What is her secret?
Known at the home for her beaming smile and brilliant sense of humour, when asked this question, Olive comically responds: “Avoid talking to strange men, and you’ll be just fine.”
Featured Image – Deewater Grange Care Home
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
20th January 2023 
