'˜No stopping' centenarian Rene
Born in Islington on March 26, 1918, Rene was the second eldest of five children and has always been active.
But when she was a teenager, she suffered life-threatening blood poisoning that ended her education.
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Hide AdRene explained: “I left school at 13 because I had a tooth extracted by the school dentist and developed septicaemia. I wasn’t well at all. I didn’t go back to school. My father wasn’t that interested in education.”
Her parents ran a removal company in London, Neil and Sons Ltd, initially with a horse and cart.
Rene spent most of her younger life visiting and staying in Lancing, as both sets of grandparents lived in the village.
Her mother died at the age of 48, so her elder sister Vera was sent to Lancing at the age of 14 to be in service, looking after their grandparents.
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Hide AdWhen Rene retired, she sold her London house and moved to Lancing. She and Vera then spent every day together, often going out in the car, as Rene drove until she was 92.
Rene said: “There was a shelter on the seafront we used to sit in and watch the world go by.”
Vera was a keen swimmer and went in the sea most days but Rene said she had to ‘think about it a bit more’, although she did enjoy a dip.
Rene added: “I used to like the beach and swimming, and walking on the Downs.”
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Hide AdThe sisters were born on the same day, two years apart, but Vera died eight years ago.
Rene worked for the Post Off