FOR some people, staying away from alcohol and cigarettes is the key to a long life.

For others, it’s a no-meat diet or plenty of exercise and healthy living.

But for Miss Isabella Blyth, it’s none of the above. She is 106 and is still a virgin.

Miss Blyth, from Gorgie, west Edinburgh, has revealed that the secret to her long life is the fact that she has never been romantically involved with anybody.

The plucky pensioner, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, has no regrets about living a life of abstinence.

In fact, she believes it has made her physically and mentally strong, The Scotsman reported. Never had time “I’m not sure if anyone ever tried it on – but they never got anywhere! She says she never felt the need for romance and never had time for a man,” her niece, Ms Sheena Campbell, was quoted as saying.

“She did like the odd sherry though.”

Miss Blyth was born in 1904. She used to attend flower club and church, sang in the choir and played golf or did gardening. She had always stayed in Edinburgh and
worked for 35 years as a private secretary to a whisky producer.

Ms Campbell, 67, said: “She was wrapped up in her church and she loved her choir and flower club. And she had a high-powered job, which meant she was always busy.”

She added: “I think she was also a bit of a maiden lady as she was the first-born and acted as a head with her six brothers and sisters.”

Miss Blyth describes her childhood as “happy and healthy”, up until the outbreak of war in 1914, when her father was called up to fight.

Despite her grand old age, Miss Blyth, who has stayed at an old age home for the past two years, insists on washing and feeding herself.

Ms Campbell said: “She never had time to be sad. She’s an amazing character. You wouldn’t believe she was 106.”

This article was first published in The New Paper.