MRS ANNIE HARRISONS NINETY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 2

MRS ANNIE HARRISONS NINETY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY

From the comfort of a Fendalton drawing-room, where relatives and friends had gathered in her honour, Mrs Annie IJanrison yesterday looked back upon 95 years of Christchurch history. She was born on July 24, 1865, and has spent almost all her life in Christckurch. Except for failing eyesight the years have laid remarkably few burdens on her. Her memory is still good; she has an excellent sense of humour; and she is emphatic that her„ health has always been “perfect.” Mrs Harrison, who now lives in Merivale, is a daughter of Mr I. W. Philpott, who arrived at Lyttelton from Maidstone, Kent, in the Randolph it) 1850. Mrs Harrison’s mother came to Canterbury in 1852. Mr Philpott’s first home was in the Papanui Bush, from which he hauled the timber to build “Greenaway House,” the family homestead in St Albans. This house stood on a five-acre

site reached from Crescent road (now Trafalgar street). The land has Since become English Park. Mrs Harrison was educated at the St. Albans and Normal Schools. She began her training as a teacher, but was unable to continue because of her mother’s illness. In 1886 she married Mr J. Harrison, a well-known businessman in Christchurch. Later, Mr Harrison owned farms at Wyndham and near Amberley. For about 25 years Mr and Mrs Harrison made their home in Holly road, St. Albans. Mr Harrison died in 1942. Asked yesterday for her recipe for longevity, Mrs Harrison was forthright in her insistence that common sense had been her most powerful ally. “I consider my diet a good deal,” she said. “But the most important thing of all is just to use one’s own common sense." Until the last three or four years Mrs Harrison was an avid reader, enjoying biographies most. She was also an accomplished pianist. Only her poor eyesight restricts her even now from walking from her home into the city.

Mrs Harrison’s views on education, home discipline, leisure, and young people coincide with those of many observers 50 years younger than she is. She firmly believes in the encouragement of young people to avail themselves of educational opportunities. She contrasts the recreational facilities of modern times with the dearth

of comparable amenities during her youth. Victorian discipline, she considers, was often unduly strict; it resulted in a lack of warmth in homes, and in the unnecessary repression, of the children.

“In the old days young people may have been dissatisfied, but dared not say anything,” she said yesterday “Very often parents were over-strict. I believe in firmness with children, but it ought to be kindly firmness.” In young mothers' care of their children Mrs Harrison finds daily cause for admiration. “A child's life is considered more these days.” she said. “Perhaps this is because in the olden days there were so many children in each family that the parents couldn’t bother the same with them.” Mrs Harrison admits she is “old-fashioned about household gadgets." She thinks gadgets are probably overrated. She objects,

too, to the quality of films that attract youthful audiences. “Young people today are ahead of their age,” she says. “They can grasp more than earlier generations, and they have much better opportunities.” As she approaches her one hundredth year Mrs Harrison readily concedes that young people are no worse than they used to be. She has adapted herself so successfully to changes all around her that nobody meeting this youthful nonagenarian could be dismayed by the prospect of extreme longevity. Yesterday morning Mrs Harrison attended the service at the St. Albans Methodist Church, with which she has had a lifelong association. After lunch at the home of her elder son, Mr R. J. Harrison, of Chepstow avenue. Fendalton, she was entertained at the home of her younger daughter, Mrs R. H. Miles, of Fendalton road. Her other children are Mrs V. M. Edgar and Mr W. G. Harrison, both of Wellington. Mrs Harrison has nine grandchildren and 16 'great-grandchildren.