Garlic is the secret to long life, says 104-year-old Ivy

THEN and now . . . Ivy Howard, who celebrates her 104th birthday today, is pictured with a framed photograph of herself in her youth

IVY Howard swears the secret to a long and happy life is a garlic pearl every morning.

And she should know, for today she celebrates her 104th birthday.

Ivy lives with her daughter Aileen Wood in Lower Turf Lane, Scouthead, and enjoys an active social life with friends from the Thursday Club at St Edward’s Church in Lees.

The social butterfly enjoyed a meal with her family on Sunday and will welcome friends to her home for a party today.

Husband Elmer passed away 44 years ago and Ivy’s daughter Kathleen died of cancer aged 53.

Until her early 90s, Ivy was a keen painter and her home is filled with her artwork.

Ivy advocates sticking to home cooked food and staying away from cigarettes but she will admit to enjoying the occasional glass of sherry.