'Whisky and 15 cigarettes a day is the secret of my good health' says Dorothy as she celebrates her 100th birthday (with a glass of her favourite tipple, of course)

Hardy pensioner Dorothy Howe has reached
her 100th birthday - despite smoking nearly
half a million cigarettes during her life.
The retired secretary took her first drag aged
16 and has puffed her way through 15
Superking Black ciggies every day since then.
She has smoked around 460,000 cigarettes
over the last 84 years - costing £193,000 at
today’s prices.


But despite the obvious health risks, Dorothy
believes smoking is the secret to her old age -
and a regular drop of whisky.
Relaxing with her favourite tipple of Bell’s,
she said: 'I put my health down to whisky and
cigarettes. I only drink when I’m out but my
doctor said I wouldn’t be alive without them.
'I’m still alive and I can lift my elbows - it’s
great. I’ve had a great life and God has
treated me very well. I’ve been very lucky.'
Childless Dot, who still lives in her own home
in Saltdean, East Sussex, worked as an
assistant to the chairman of Martin's
newsagents.
She lost her husband of 26 years Peter to
cancer in 1993, when he was just 60 years
old, and has lived alone ever since.
'I keep telling myself that I'm going to quit
smoking when they put the prices up, but
that's just not going to happen now,' she said.




'When I started smoking, I was about 16, and
they cost 11d and a halfpenny for 20. I can't
believe how much they cost now. Whisky
tastes just as good as it used to though. My
pins aren't as fast as they used to be, but my
mind is still sharp.'
On her milestone birthday, friends took Dot
to her local pub where she had a couple of
drinks before returning home to open her
card from the Queen. Friend Lynn Sass said:
'She has the respect and friendship of a lot of
people around here. She's wonderful and a
great character.
'She's thought very highly of and we hope
she's had a great time. It's a real achievement
for a great woman.'