Double celebration

Centenarians are treasure troves of experience and history. They are also living wonders of longevity.

When Elsie Wilkins celebrated her 105th birthday on 7 January at Clayburn Court care home in Hampton, Peterborough, England, she recalled family life during World War II, including going to a bomb shelter under their garden whenever air raid sirens sounded to warn of German bombers flying overhead, the Peterborough Telegraph reported.

Wilkins also recalled working as a cook at a canteen for soldiers, where she met her husband, William. They married in 1945 and had four children.

Her family describes the grandmother as a lover of music and dancing, noting that she went to evening dances during the war.

Another amazing pair of centenarians are Yuan Guanjin and his wife, Yin Hezhen, who live in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China.

A family photo of the couple taken on 19 January and later posted on Chinese social media went viral, intriguing netizens about their relationship, lifestyle and age.

Yuan and Yin have been married for 70 years, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). They married in 1950 and have five children, with the youngest now aged 59 and the eldest 74.

Family members told the local Chinese newspaper Dushikuaibao that the secret to their long life is “minding your own business,” SCMP reported.

Despite their different tastes and daily routines, they have lived in harmony and supported each other. Yuan spends his day outside with friends, while Yin prefers staying at home. He eats sweets and vegetables, while she prefers meat and drinks wine every day.

“They do not meddle in other people’s affairs; they just focus on living their own life well,” eldest son Yuan Chenglong told Dushikuaibao, according to SCMP.

As for the couple’s age, both are 102. The viral family photo showing them with their children marked the celebration of their birthdays.

Yuan and Yin share the same birth date: 26 March 1924.