Tribute to Elsie, 107

Tributes have today been paid to one of Shropshire's oldest residents who has died aged 107. Elsie Bone had lived at the Morris Care Centre, in Wellington, for the last eight years.Paying tribute, staff at the home said she would be sadly missed by everyone as she had become "part of the family".

Elsie was born in St Georges, in Telford, and left the area in the early 1920s to live in Australia with her husband Ben, who was a director of parks and gardens.

She returned to England after 60 years to live in Admaston, Telford, when her husband died.

Sandy George, manager of the care home, said: "Mrs Bone died peacefully with her nurses and carers around her.

"In her younger days she was a very determined lady. She was a pleasure to nurse and to have in our home.

"A lot of the staff have been here for many years and as she was here for eight years she was one of the family."

She said Mrs Bone had become very frail in the last couple of years but was very independent when she first arrived.

Mrs George added: "Her secret to a long life was being kind to people. It's a real loss, she was a real character."

Mrs Bone had celebrated her 103rd birthday with a slap-up meal of fish and chips eaten out of the paper.

Her nephew Tom Bailey, of Hollinswood, also took her to Ludlow for the day because she had not been before.

He said his aunt's long-life was down to leading a good life in Australia for 60 years.

Mrs Bone had received a birthday card from the Queen for every birthday since she turned 100.

Her sister, Gladys Chetter, died two days after celebrating her 102nd birthday two years ago.

A funeral service will be held at Shrewsbury Crematorium on Friday at 2.40pm. Family flowers only but donations will go to the Shropshire branch of the RNIB.