Hetty Bower

Hetty Bower is 103. On BBC4 last night there was a documentary about Hetty and two other ladies living in a residential home for the 'active elderly'. It was inspirational.

Hetty loves walking and classical music and has been a life long pacifist, campaigning to this day about the war in Iraq and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. She is still taking part in protest marches and delivering petitions to Downing Street. Her hearing and her eyesight have deteriorated but her mind is as sharp as ever. I was bowled over by her spirit and could not help but admire and respect her commitment to the beliefs she has held for a lifetime. I don't know if it's a 'generation' thing sadly, but I have never had that passion for an ideal.

Her husband died in the 90's and they were together for over 70 years. She recounted how he was sent away to Scotland during the war years. She told him that he had to come home because she'd planned that when the time came she was going to die in his arms. This was not to be. The way she told it was so poignant. It broke my heart.