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| Britain's oldest person celebrates 112th birthday | Britain's oldest person celebrates 112th birthday |
| (1 day later) | |
| The oldest person in Britain celebrates her 112th birthday, just three days after assuming the mantle. | |
| Gladys Hooper, from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, became the country's oldest person on Thursday following the death of Ethel Lang, who was 114. | Gladys Hooper, from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, became the country's oldest person on Thursday following the death of Ethel Lang, who was 114. |
| Mrs Hooper is the UK's most senior supercentenarian according to the Gerontology Research Group records. | Mrs Hooper is the UK's most senior supercentenarian according to the Gerontology Research Group records. |
| On learning of her achievement, she said: "I am surprised, I thought I was just the oldest person on the island." | On learning of her achievement, she said: "I am surprised, I thought I was just the oldest person on the island." |
| Mrs Hooper, who has four grandchildren and six great grandchildren, was born in the same year as the Wright brothers invented the first aeroplane. | Mrs Hooper, who has four grandchildren and six great grandchildren, was born in the same year as the Wright brothers invented the first aeroplane. |
| Asked about the secret of her longevity, she said: "I have always been busy, I prefer being busy than being idle, that's what I don't like about now, I can't get about like I used to. | Asked about the secret of her longevity, she said: "I have always been busy, I prefer being busy than being idle, that's what I don't like about now, I can't get about like I used to. |
| "I have always lived a straight life, never done stupid things. I have never gone beyond the limit, always been active. I think always being active keeps you young. | "I have always lived a straight life, never done stupid things. I have never gone beyond the limit, always been active. I think always being active keeps you young. |
| "I have done what I wanted to do and helped others as much as I could. | "I have done what I wanted to do and helped others as much as I could. |
| "I do not feel anything like the age I am, I do not feel any different to when I was 70," Mrs Hooper said. | "I do not feel anything like the age I am, I do not feel any different to when I was 70," Mrs Hooper said. |
| Born in Dulwich, south east London on 18 January 1903 she was the oldest, and now the only surviving member, of six siblings - five girls and one boy. | Born in Dulwich, south east London on 18 January 1903 she was the oldest, and now the only surviving member, of six siblings - five girls and one boy. |
| She was brought up in Rottingdean, east Sussex and went on to become a concert pianist before starting a car hire business in the 1920s. | She was brought up in Rottingdean, east Sussex and went on to become a concert pianist before starting a car hire business in the 1920s. |
| She later ran Kingscliff House School, which is now Brighton College. | She later ran Kingscliff House School, which is now Brighton College. |
| After being widowed in 1977 she moved to the Isle of Wight two years later to be near her son Derek Hermiston, an 84-year-old retired pilot. | After being widowed in 1977 she moved to the Isle of Wight two years later to be near her son Derek Hermiston, an 84-year-old retired pilot. |
| Members of Mrs Hooper's family travelled from across the UK and as far away as British Columbia to be with Gladys for her big day. | Members of Mrs Hooper's family travelled from across the UK and as far away as British Columbia to be with Gladys for her big day. |