Meet the 105-year-old virgin. BRITAIN'Soldest virgin who celebrates her 105thbirthday this weekend says no sex is thesecret to her long life. Having known shewould remain single from the age oftwelve, Clara Meadmore abstained toconcentrate on earning a living.

BRITAIN'S oldest virgin who celebrates her 105th
birthday this weekend says no sex is the secret to her
long life.    

Having known she would remain single from the age of
twelve, Clara Meadmore abstained to concentrate on
earning a living.
She has never had sex because she was "too busy" for
intimate relationships which seemed like "a lot of hassle".
The retired secretary said sex equalled marriage in the
1920s and 1930s and she did not buy into the idea.

Former self ... Clara in her late 30sss

She says she is proud of remaining a virgin.

"People have asked whether I am a homosexual and the

answer is no. I have just never been interested in or

fancied having sex," Clara said.

"I imagine there is a lot of hassle involved and I have

always been busy doing other things.

"I've never had a boyfriend - I've never been bothered

about relationships. When I was a girl you only had sex

with your husband and I never married.

"I've always had lots of platonic friendships with men but

never felt the need to go further than that or marry.

"I made my mind up at the age of 12 never to marry and

I've not gone back on that."

But Clara was never a girl short of marriage proposals

and despite "offers" she turned them all down.

"I grew up in an era where little girls were to be seen and

not heard so I had to learn to stand up for myself and

earn my own living," she said.

"Some men don't like that in a woman and before long I

was too old to marry anyway."

Instead of looking after a husband, Clara took up reading,

gardening, walking, cooking and listening to Radio 4's

Woman's Hour.