The key to unlocking longevity for Olive Saddington is the belief that the greatest gift you can share is the love that flourishes through connection to family, friends and community.
Saddington, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 16, was born in Birmingham, which many consider the heart of England and the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution Although there was a lot of industry, some businesses still used horses instead of cars, and Romas roamed the country with their horse-drawn caravans.
One character she remembers from that time was the rag and bone man, who went around the streets with a horse-drawn flatbed collecting old clothes and pretty much anything else that people discarded.
Saddington's life changed dramatically once the Second World War broke out. Due to the heavy industry in Birmingham, it sustained extremely heavy bombing, and people built shelters in their gardens. She watched as families got wiped out, homes were obliterated, and men lost their lives. Life took on a whole new meaning, living in the moment had a new meaning as well.
It was during those dark times, however, that Saddington met the love of her life, Clifford Saddington. They married in 1943 while he was serving as a parachutist, and began their life together after the war.
"I was 20 and he was 19 and we stayed married all those years," said Saddington, whose maiden name was Woodley.
They started a family within two years and had three children, sons Roy and Robert, and daughter Lesley.
"My mother was a stay-at-home parent taking care of the family and home while my father went to work," explained her daughter, Sooke resident Lesley Saddington. "Life wasn't easy, but they were hardworking and had a strong moral compass driven by responsibility, duty, obligation and the courage to do the right thing. We always had a vacation and travelled the beautiful places the British Isles offered, exploring the history and wonder in the countryside, and viewing historic castles and beaches."
"My father was a gardener, and between the two of them they harvested fresh produce and my mother processed it by canning and freezing, good healthy food," Lesley said. "My father was a butcher so the dinner table was complete. Mom always knitting or sewing, either mending or creating. My father was adept at carpentry, building, mechanics and household maintenance, so throughout their lives they made the most of what they could do to provide for themselves and their family."
Her parents took up ballroom dancing as a way to socialize, exercise and enjoy their time together, something that carried over once the children had grown up and they were able to travel more extensively, and the couple's romance with ballroom dancing continued after they moved to Vancouver Island in the 1980s at the urging of Lesley
"We used to take cruises and dance on the ships," Olive recalled fondly. "It was grand. I loved Venice, Florence and Sicily. We went to a lot of different countries before Clifford had his accident. We had so many wonderful times together, and I miss him so much."
A fall from a ladder caused a head injury to Clifford about 10 years ago.
"From that point on my mother took care of him for many years as he slipped deeper into dementia as a result of the fall," Lesley said. "She met all her challenges and she never gave up until there was no alternative but for him to move into Ayre Manor. That is a great example of one of the biggest things about my mother, her levels of determination and independence."
Olive used to love to walk into town and around the neighbourhood and remained completely independent until a couple of months ago when walking became an issue. She has maintained her independence, however, and still lives alone, although she has support workers who come every day to help out.
"I miss getting around and going to the pub for lunch and a glass of wine," Olive said. "But I'm still pretty content in my life."
Lesley and her brother, Robert, live nearby and stay in constant contact, and Olive cherishes the time she spends with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"My mother encourages me to believe that I will enjoy a long life," Lesley said. "Longevity is random and you never know what's going to happen, health-wise, but Mom and I both believe that love and the connection with family and friends is the most important thing."
