One of the oldest women in the UK has said that cigarettes and alcohol are the secrets to a long life as she prepares to celebrate her 109th birthday.
Yorkshirewoman Minnie Liddle, who at 108 is the oldest woman in Doncaster and the seventh oldest in the UK, has credited a life full of cigarettes and brandy for helping her to reach such an impressive age.
The centenarian smoked for the majority of her life, only quitting at the tender age of 99, and still enoys a daily glass of brandy or Bailey's at Stainforth’s Oldfield House care home where she has lived for the past four years.
Only leaving her own home at aged 104, Minnie lived independently until recently and is now set to mark her next milestone this Sunday. Her own mother lived to 101.
It will see her close in on the title of oldest person in the UK. The title is currently held by Mary Walker, aged 112 - however Britain’s oldest person ever, Charlotte Hughes, made it to 115 before passing away in 1993.
According to the Yorkshire Post Minnie's granddaughter Joy Young reportedly said of her grandma on her birthday last year, “She lived in her own bungalow until she was 104 - and she only gave up smoking when she was 99, and she still loves a brandy."
She has lived through two pandemics, unlike most of her neighbours, and is one of the few people alive in her borough today who can still remember the Spanish flu, which first swept across the country in 1918.
She has also lived through two world wars, four different monarchs, and twenty one different prime ministers to date.
Originally brought up in Sunderland, Minnie lived there with her husband, Albert, until the 1960s when the family moved to Doncaster due to Albert's job.
She worked at the Barnes Hotel during the war whilst her husband was overseas in the army, he then worked as a stonemason making gravestones on his return before taking a job with warehouse retail firm Pearlmans.
It was this position that ultimately brought the family to Doncaster.
After Albert died in his early 60s, Minnie moved to Bentley. She now has two sons, seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren.
This Sunday, staff will mark her 109th with a special celebration at Stainforth’s Oldfield House care home.
Feature image - Minnie Liddle
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Inside Sheffield’s new supersize JD Sports Store that has just opened in Meadowhall
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Georgina Pellant -
7th December 2021 
