In rural Kent, women live to 95 and men to 86. What are their secrets to a long life? thetimes.co.uk/article/rose-n…
According to Public Health England, in Detling and Thurnham, near Maidstone, women live to 95 on average. That is the greatest life expectancy in England and well above the national average of 83. 
Irene Nobbs turned 102 in April.
What’s her secret? “A good, busy life — that’s all I can say. I have a glass of rosé every night before bed.”
What’s her secret? “A good, busy life — that’s all I can say. I have a glass of rosé every night before bed.”
Margaret Cooke, 89, has lived in Detling since 1961.
Her advice for a longer life is simple. “Always try to be busy,” she says. “My motto is, ‘If a door opens in front of you, go through it. If an opportunity comes up, take it!’”
Her advice for a longer life is simple. “Always try to be busy,” she says. “My motto is, ‘If a door opens in front of you, go through it. If an opportunity comes up, take it!’”
The other women of Detling share her motto. Gill Munson, 79, is a churchwarden, secretary of the local theatre group and a volunteer at the community shop, to name a few of her many roles.
“We’re too busy to feel old,” she says.
“We’re too busy to feel old,” she says.
Pauline Senior is 82 but looks 60. She has lived in Detling for 37 years.
She lost her husband earlier this year but has her dog, a 13-year-old Jack Russell called Candy, for company. “We all have dogs here,” she says. “They do keep us active.”
She lost her husband earlier this year but has her dog, a 13-year-old Jack Russell called Candy, for company. “We all have dogs here,” she says. “They do keep us active.”
There are several other factors in Detling’s favour. The local GP practice has eight doctors and accepts face-to-face appointments.
Detling is not particularly wealthy but it does have very low levels of deprivation — a key determinant of how long you live, according to Veena Raleigh, a senior fellow at the King’s Fund healthcare think tank.
“Very often people living in deprived areas will have a cluster of unfavourable risk factors that weigh on their health, such as obesity, smoking and poverty,” Raleigh says.
Should those in search of a longer life move to Detling?
“It doesn’t work like that. It’s more to do with the people themselves and their histories and habits,” Raleigh explains.
“It doesn’t work like that. It’s more to do with the people themselves and their histories and habits,” Raleigh explains.
Read more: thetimes.co.uk/article/rose-n…
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