AGE AND HEALTH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 2

AGE AND HEALTH

‘Nothing To Do With Me”

b Attributing her long - life and good health to • divine goodness, Mrs A. • McLeman, of Ashburton, celebrated her ninetieth birthday on Friday. " "It was nothing to do with .'me. J couldn’t say it was anything else but the good'ness of God,” she said, after ■ many of her descendants ’celebrated her birthday with a family reunion at her flat 'in Wills street. Mrs McLeman has three daughters, eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grand-children. Her husband died 35 ye<-rs ago, and since then she has lived by herself and still envoys excellent health after never suffering an illness in her life Pioneer’s Daughter Born at Longbeach station on June 7, 1873. Mrs McLeman moved to Tinwa.d when she was four years eld. Her father, Mr Francis Lewis, arrived in New Zealand from Plymouth, England, in 1868, in the Eastern Empire. Mrs McLeman was one of a family of eight, and has one sister still living. Her brother, Isaac, died recently, aged 92. Mrs McLeman was a firstday pupil at the Tinwald School.

After her marriage in 1900. •he went to live in Rakaia and shortly after moved to the North Island. For most of her life she has been associated with the Ashburton Baptist Church •nd takes an active interest In community work.