Meet Mary

"I'm 86 but still very fit and active, although I don't overdo it. I enjoy food and I like a glass of wine, but I've never smoked, and I keep up with my COVID and flu jabs. So I'm OK. I've always been very interested in local affairs and improving things. I was on a Good Neighbourhood committee and worked as an administrator for the British Diabetic Association. I'm used to organising and good at working things out, so if anyone has a problem I'll help them solve it. I don't have any authority, but I do know how to channel people in the right direction. During the lockdown, a friend and I looked after a very nice lady called Joan who had massive arthritis. She had no family, she was on her own, so we'd go and see her regularly. In October we found her in an extremely poor state and called an ambulance. She'd just turned 88 and sadly she died which was extremely upsetting. But it's good to know we did what we could and that she didn't die alone. For many years I also helped to look after my neighbour Rose. When she developed dementia she needed the extra help of a care home, but they always said that she perked right up when I went in. She died about 3 years ago, and her carers are now renting the house. They're from the Philippines and they're awfully sweet. The hubby keeps knocking and asking, 'Are you all right?' and I say, 'I'm fine, Sonny. I'm fine.'

"I battle on. I just think it's in my genes. My grandmother was an amazing woman who raised 8 children on her own in the East End after she was widowed young. She's always inspired me. It took me 15 years of no holidays, no this, no that, to buy my house, but I did it. So now I have security. I also rescue cats. I have 8 at the moment. They're always knocking on my door and asking, 'Can I come and live with you?' so I'll go, 'Okay, come on in'. Keeping busy keeps me young and means I don't have time to flag.”