Residents would sooner be dead than lose their marbles.

THE thought of living to 100 fills many of you with dread- even though one in five could reach the grand age.

Fears over poor health and dementia mean pensioners in Honiton would sooner be dead than a burden to their loved ones and society.

According to members of Honiton Senior Citizens’ Centre, good health and mobility are more important than age.

We asked them: Do you want to live to 100?

“Not if I am going to suffer, no,” said Ivy Patch, 85. “It depends on my health.”

Joyce Welch, 84, said: “Some days I think I would and other days I don’t. It depends how I am feeling.”

Margaret Robson, 85, said she would like to live to 100 - but only if she was fit and well.

“My mother was 100 when she died,” she said. “She was all right until her birthday and then she gradually went down hill.”

Jean Webster, 74, only wants to live to 100 if she has still got all her marbles.

“I’d only want to live to 100 if I had all my faculties and was healthy,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to be a burden on anyone. It would be great, if I was still with it.”

When asked if he wants to live to 100, her husband, Arthur, said: “No!”

Margaret Scott, 72, said: “Live to 100? Not really, no. I don’t know why.”

Di Hawkins, 65, said: “If I could feel as fit as I do now, yes. If not, no thank you.

“I’d only want to live to 100 if I could care for myself and still had my marbles.”

Pam Lane, 67, chairman of the senior citizens’ centre, said: “If I was able and fit, yes. I wouldn’t want to be a burden.”