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A pensioner has revealed her secret of reaching 100 - smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 84 years.
Great-grandmother Kitty Butcher has puffed her way through a pack of cigarettes every day since she was a teenager in 1925.
Mrs Butcher, of Paignton, Devon, still gets through 20 a day as well as several whiskies before she goes to bed.
The former greengrocer has now reached her 100th birthday and says she has no intention of kicking the habit.
Mrs Butcher, a widow and mother of three, said: "I have been smoking since I was 16 and have never stopped.
"I just don't know how I have managed it, getting to 100. I have had such fun in my life."
Reader views (15)
"If I'd taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he told me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." …George Burns
Burns famously got through between 10 and 15 cigars a day. He was 100 when he died but there's no reason why Kitty can't live for many more happy, healthy years.
The passive smoking myth has effectively disappeared in a puff of smoke as the deceptions promoting it have all been exposed - how long before the whole tobacco deception goes the same way?
- Vellocatus Brigantia, UK, 11/08/2009 11:50
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My next fag will be lit for YOU Kitty! Well done and congrats on the big One-0-0.
- Neil, London, London UK, 10/08/2009 14:30
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Good luck to Kitty Butcher, in rough figures Kitty has smoked 613,200 cigarettes in her life, may she enjoy thousands more.
Most long term smokers will enjoy in the region of half a million cigarettes in their lifetime.
This article illustrates perfectly the myths about passive smoking.
Remember Sadams weapons of mass distruction, in the end they were shown to be a Labour spin Myth, passive smoking will be proved to be just as big a myth.
- Avicam, UK, 10/08/2009 13:27
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I bet she eats all the wrong foods as well 
- Marie, Bodrum, Turkey, 10/08/2009 11:06
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apparantly, each cigarette takes 6 minutes off your life expectancy! If this is accurate, if Kitty had never smoked, she would live until she was at least 107!
- Gary, amersham, 10/08/2009 09:02
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All those people who lived through the 1940s and 1950s and had to endure all that smoking and passive smoking are living far too long, so the Government are increasing the retirement age to 70.
- Chas, Little Britain, 10/08/2009 08:06
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All luck to you Kitty.
But this won't stop the anti smoking propaganda bunch demanding Kitty quit to prolong her life.
- Kelly, england, 09/08/2009 23:38
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This woman needs re-educating. Life isn't about enjoying oneself, it's about providing beneficial statistics for fake charities, in order that they can claim grants from the public sector and keep themselves in a job.
Get with the program, Kitty you're messing up ASH & Alcohol Concern's average wrongdoer longevity stats. Think of it as your gift to the chiiildren.
- Mr Puddlecote, London, 09/08/2009 22:43
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If the lady had said she had never smoked a cigarette in
her life , she would have been on the main BBC News and
front page of the Guardian not to mention a e-mail from
Andy Burnham. There is something sinister afoot where
smoking is concerned , a distinct odour of financial
incentives.All will be revealed ,but when?
- Barrus Connacht, NORTH BRITAIN, 09/08/2009 22:04
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You carry on Kitty - it's done you no harm and it's doing me no harm either.
Everything in moderation for a long and healthy life!
The temperance movement and prohibitionists will be beaten.
- Helen, Wigan, 09/08/2009 21:59
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Well done Kitty I hope you do a good few years yet.
- Marley, nazi england, 09/08/2009 21:58
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Totally destroys the SHS propaganda, ASH lies and medical argument against smoking. In fact it sounds like smokers actually live longer and happier lives. Perhaps thats why they want us to stop - because it's GOOD FOR YOU.
- Marley, nazi england, 09/08/2009 21:56
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I suppose the anti-smoking fascists will come up
with some excuse...
- Lb, Bromley, 08/08/2009 21:51
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Well done Kitty! That is certainly one in the eye for all the anti-smoking muppets.
My Father smoked constantly for 70 years and he NEVER even went to the doctors in his lifetime.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 08/08/2009 15:03
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Stories like this must get the anti-smokers' undies in a bunch. It's worth it just for that! You go Miss Kitty!!
- Audrey Silk, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 08/08/2009 09:28
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