With reference to your article on longevity (WDDTY vol 9 no 1), my mother will be 105 years old on August 31. Apart from being weak on her legs and just this month beginning to show signs of memory loss, she is perfectly fit.

Her skin is good, with no age or liver spots and her hair has more colour than mine. She has never had any major illness and recovers from minor ones quickly.

She smoked until she was 60 plus, adores fat (especially dripping), never exercised and still drinks Harveys Bristol Cream every day.

To her credit she always had an afternoon rest, went to bed early and rose early. Over and above everything else, she has always been quite unable to worry about anything. "Let it all wash over you," she said to me last week, and that, I think, is the answer. Iris Clack, Middlesex......