Worksop woman aged 104 kept going with ‘a weekly dose of Gold Label’

A Worksop woman hit 104 this month thanks to a weekly dose of Gold Label - the strongest beer brewed in the UK at one time.
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Hardy Minnie Rudderham has had the potent barley wine - a mighty 10.6 percent ABV - delivered by close friends Mary and Steve Tulip every week.

And though lockdown temporarily disrupted the flow of the lifegiving tonic ‘cantankerous’ Minnie took delivery of six bottles of dry white wine courtesy of Morrisons on her big day.

Mary, 73, a friend of Minnie’s late son Edward, cared for the centenarian at her Sandy Lane bungalow until poor mobility saw her rehomed at Worksop’s Westwood Care Home a year ago.

Minnie surrounded with gifts and flowersMinnie surrounded with gifts and flowers
Minnie surrounded with gifts and flowers

She said: “I think the secret to her long life is the wine and the Gold Label - along with a packet of crisps. She says it keeps her going.”

Mum-of-one Minnie was showered with gifts and flowers on July 11 during a party with staff at the home - while she also received a visit from her daughter-in-law who is sadly her only surviving family member.

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Good friend Mary described the tough Worksop woman - who was born during WW1 - as ‘not afraid to tell you off’ and ‘always having a gossip’.

Minnie with staff on her big dayMinnie with staff on her big day
Minnie with staff on her big day

She said: “She can remember things from childhood upwards but she struggles to take things in that are happening now and she can’t walk anymore.”

Minnie - who was a regular at bingo until the age of 100 - celebrated her century milestone four years ago with a trip to Palais Bingo on Newcastle Avenue.

Club bosses hosted a party with discounted games, decorations, a birthday cake and champagne all round.

Manager Steve Race described her as ‘a remarkable woman’.

Minnie hit 104 this month thanks to a weekly dose of Gold Label - the strongest beer brewed in the UK at one timeMinnie hit 104 this month thanks to a weekly dose of Gold Label - the strongest beer brewed in the UK at one time
Minnie hit 104 this month thanks to a weekly dose of Gold Label - the strongest beer brewed in the UK at one time

Twice-widowed Minnie was born in Retford but her family moved to Worksop when five and she has lived in the town ever since.

She married first husband Ernest Sargeson - with whom she had son Edward - when she was 21.

When war broke out two years later she went to work in an ammunition factory in Ranskill.

Loyal companion Mary told how before Edward died he said ‘look after my mum’, and she added ‘we’ve been doing it ever since’.

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