Margaret Ham, a 99-year-old from Basingstoke, will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 27, 2026. Despite smoking 20 to 40 cigarettes daily, she insists she will never quit, attributing her longevity to marmalade and the habit. Her granddaughter, Rachael Matthews, 47, said: 'She smokes 20-40 cigarettes a day and has always been a smoker. She's never stopped and won't be stopping anytime soon.'
Lifestyle and Indulgences
Margaret consumes strong Yorkshire Tea with gold top milk, avoids semi-skimmed, and spreads butter an inch thick on her bread with marmalade. She has never been a heavy drinker. Matthews noted: 'A lot of the generation from back then are just made of different stuff.' Margaret decided to continue her lifestyle after her mother died at 52 following a health kick, prompting her to keep going.
Independence and Family
Despite her age, Margaret lives independently, 'hobbling and pottering' around her home. She is a great-grandmother and adores her great-granddaughter Megan, 23. Matthews visits daily and spends Sundays with her. To celebrate, Matthews is asking the public to send birthday cards to Margaret at her home address: 35 Borodin Close, Basingstoke, RG22 4EN.
War Service and Early Life
Born in Bristol in 1926, Margaret grew up during World War II. Her bomb shelter was the envy of neighbours for being deep and large. She recalls a bomber plane crashing nearby, which was frightening. At about 18, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), serving for two years. She later moved to Kilburn, met her husband, and had two children: Linda and Sheila. The family eventually settled in Basingstoke.
