Marlow’s oldest resident revealed the secret to a long and healthy life is to ‘work hard and play hard’ at her 106th birthday celebrations last week.

At a party organised by Marlow FM, friends of Ruth Hillsdon along with town mayor, Cllr Bob Johnson, gathered in Burgers of Marlow, on The Causeway last Wednesday  to reminisce with the centenarian as she gave a captivating insight in to her life over several cups of tea.

After leaving Marlow at around the age of 5 to grow up in the rural countryside of Medmenham, the former hairdresser did not return to the town until 1985 where she has been ever since.

Ruth recalled her admiration for Marlow when she lived there as a young girl, and stressed how much the town had changed over the past 100 years.

And when asked the secret to a long and healthy life – after she announced she takes barely any medication – she said it was a good balance of hard work and play.

She said: “Hard work is the main thing and being active. I used to walk from Medmenham to Marlow when I was younger.

“I got my first job in Maidenhead as a hairdresser, beauty and manicurist as well. I had to get on my bike from Medmenham and ride it to Maidenhead because that is the only way I could get there then.

“To me my life was hard work and play. You have to do something you enjoy but accept that it is not always going to be easy.

Despite making her own dresses since the age of 9 – which quickly developed into her passion – Ruth opted to become a hairdresser when a Marlow doctor offered to pay for her training.

She said: “My Mother worked for him and I was helping her with and event of his serving food and drinks.

“I was quite pretty and he said I should do something worthwhile, not what every other girl would do, and he paid for me to do so.”

“Dress making was just a hobby - I made outfits for my children too - so I decided to become a hairdresser.”

Ruth later opened a greengrocers and florists with her husband in Henley, were the pair set about making dozens of wreaths over the Christmas period.

And while she said she loved her 106th birthday celebrations Ruth said said her best ever birthday was turning 100 and receiving a letter from the Queen.

Ruth confessed she no longer makes dresses, but she lives a busy life intertwined with various hobbies including gardening, bowls and bridge.