A 99-year-old woman is set to celebrate her 100th birthday while maintaining a unique habit of smoking 40 cigarettes daily. Margaret Ham, who attributes her long life to this unusual routine along with consuming marmalade, remains active and independent in her Basingstoke home. Despite the well-known health risks associated with smoking, she continues to indulge in this habit alongside her favorite Yorkshire tea.
Her granddaughter, Rachael Matthews, expressed that Margaret has no intentions of quitting smoking and enjoys her daily routine. Rachael emphasized Margaret’s preference for strong Yorkshire tea with full cream milk and thick butter and marmalade. Interestingly, Margaret decided to persevere with her lifestyle choices after her mother’s early death at the age of 52 following a health kick attempt.
To mark Margaret’s milestone birthday, Rachael is encouraging people to send birthday cards to her grandmother. Despite her small stature, Margaret remains active, using a walking stick, and enjoys spending time with her great-granddaughter. Born in 1926, Margaret grew up in Bristol during the war and later served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force before settling in Basingstoke with her family.
Rachael invites well-wishers to send birthday cards addressed to “Margaret” or “NanNan” to 35 Borodin Close, Basingstoke, RG22 4EN, in honor of her grandmother’s 100th birthday celebration.
