The secret to living into your 100s

Henry Miller celebrated his 102 birthday on 24 March, but unlike many people in the home he is a resident at, he still has full mental capacity and is a character loved by all who meet him, family, friends as well as all the staff at The Holy Family Home in Naxxar. 

At this time last year, Miller was in the hospital fighting for his life for 25 days. One of his sons flew in from Australia to come to his funeral but luckily, the worst did not happen. This year, he flew in to celebrate his birthday party instead, which was attended by his friend the American Ambassador, Kate Gonzi and Michelle Muscat on Thursday morning.

I arrive for the interview along with his lunch, and he quickly makes a joke with the lunch lady, while politely asking her to keep it warm for him until our interview is done.

Miller talks with great affection about his late wife, Mabel, with whom he moved to the Home six years ago when she began suffering from dementia. Unfortunately she passed away on the 25February of 2005, a date Miller remembers well. He remembers every date of significance; a feat that would put even a person with the best memory to shame.

Together they had three sons: James, 71, Dick, 63, and Alan who is now 54. He also talks fondly of his grandchildren, who are spread out all over the world, two of which are in Australia, three in England and another two here in Malta.

He talks of his wedding day in Alexandria on 20 August 1939, when he went on honeymoon with his new wife to Cairo. Their blissful happiness was cut short when Mabel’s parents began to worry about the war and they had to return to Malta.

“The trip home was not like it would be today. We caught a plane from Cairo to Alexandria, but it wasn’t a jet engine, as those had not been invented yet, it was just a small propeller plane. We then had to get onto a ship, called Khedive Ismael, with no lights, which took three days to get to Malta.

“We arrived on the eve of the war on 2 September 1939. The following day, England and France declared war on Germany.”

Miller served as a civil servant throughout his life at the Lieutenant Governor’s office as special constable and, later, as home guard.

“When the Santa Maria convoy came into port to deliver supplies during the World War II, I was sent down to the ship to offer the captain anything he needed, though as he had not slept in over a week he was almost asleep while I was talking to him.

“When I boarded the ship I suddenly heard sirens and realised I was caught in an air-raid. As the ship was a target I can honestly say that I was truly afraid. I didn’t wet my pants, but I came as close as I’d ever been.

“A smoke screen was put up and we somehow made our way off the ship to the safety of the shore.”

Wartime was a time when death could come at any moment, from bomber planes from above or from starvation due to insufficient food. One day, Miller received a package sent by his in-laws aboard the HMS Euarlius. The captain of the ship, however, required him to pick up the package himself.

As the boat was anchored in the bay, ready to leave at the first sign of bomber planes, he had to get someone to take him on a boat. As no one wanted to take the risk, it took Miller a long while to get someone to take him out to meet the ship. Knowing the dangers of being caught in yet another air raid, he waited until someone went to bring the package to him, and when the fog horn was sounded, Miller says he “jumped out of his skin” expecting bombs to start falling from the sky.

“At the time, the buses stopped in Bombi, so I had to walk all the way with a huge package filled with flour, sugar, butter and cigarettes. However, I was young and could manage the trip.

“I traded a tin of cigarettes for half a sack of flour at the baker and my wife made home-made tagliatelle and for a long time, we ate well.”

Miller explains that the secret to a long life is to live normally without any excesses.

“I was never the type to go out until 2am, not even when I was a young man. By 7pm or 8pm I was always home and on occasion stayed out at the Union Club until 9:30pm.

“Three meals a day are important to fuel the body but it is important not to eat anything in between meals, except maybe a cup of tea in the afternoon.

“I also believe that exercise plays an important role in good health and long life and while I was young I did plenty of exercise. I played football, tennis and cricket and kept these up as long as my body allowed.”

Miller has been a role model for his three children but more so for his youngest son Alan, who is the only son living in Malta at the moment and who is doing a fantastic job of looking after his father.

He arrives at 5:45am every morning to prepare his medication for the day and have a cup of tea with him before he goes to work. Then he returns at lunchtime to help him into bed for a rest and then returns again in the evening to spend some time with his father and make sure he is comfortable for the night.

Alan Miller says: “My father has been the perfect role model. He was strict when he needed to be and kind when he needed to be. It made us all grow up to take responsibility well and to pay attention to time-keeping.”

Miller is a very punctual man, even today, and if something has been planned for 10am then he expects it happen at 10am, and no later.