A GOOD appetite and a positive outlook on life is how Bangor’s newest centenarian accounts for a life of such impressive longevity.
Elizabeth Graham turned 100 on Sunday, August 2, following a weekend of celebrations, surrounded by family and friends she’s known down her many decades.
Known as Lyla, she was born on Belfast’s Shankill Road, one of five children and became a shorthand typist and secretary to one of the directors of the former Mackies engineering plant in the city, long before its closure in 1999.
She met her husband Harold, who was from Bangor and known as Harry to friends, in the 1950s and settled with him on the Crawfordsburn Road. They had two sons, Stephen who is 72 and 65 year-old Peter.
Harry, who had worked at Weir and McQuiston, as did his wife when her children were older, sadly died at just 61 from asbestosis following a career as an electrician.
Lyla, who never re-married, continued enjoying a busy life in her community.
Her eldest son, Stephen, told the Spectator that his mother had enjoyed many years with Carnalea Golf Club, acting as lady captain and lady president throughout her membership.
To this day, she remains an honorary member of the Bangor west club, though it has been a few decades since she last played a round of golf.
Lyla was also a faithful member of West Church where she was an elder and also enthusiastic member of the choir, also looking after children in clubs who met at the church.
Stephen said he believes his mum would attribute her many years to a couple of elements.
“I think she was always very much of the attitude of ‘let’s just get on with it’ and had quite a positive outlook on life.
“It’s probably good genes too, and always put it down herself to a good appetite,” he laughed, saying she still enjoyed a healthy love for food.
Residing these days in a local residential home for the elderly, Lyla was surrounded by friends who called by to toast her milestone birthday on Sunday.
That rounded off the weekend of celebrations, which began on Saturday when loved ones travelled from as far as Thailand and Canada to surprise her and celebrate at the Crawfordsburn Inn, including two of her remaining siblings, Jack Fisher and Valerie Henderson.
