Shropshire's oldest resident dies aged 107

Violet Edwards, who lived at The Rylands Nursing and Residential Home in Newport, died after catching a chest infection.

Her death came as a shock to family and friends, who said she was knitting and even taking selfies in the days before she passed away.

Mrs Edwards was believed to be Shropshire's oldest resident following the death of 111-year-old Hermione Cock, from Shrewsbury, in November.

Every May Mrs Edwards was thrown a birthday party to celebrate, with a different theme each year.

Last year she celebrated her 107th birthday with a pirate-themed do, and her niece Ruth Clark said this year's party would have been a ballerina theme.

Mrs Edwards died on December 19 after she caught a chest infection four days earlier, which developed into pneumonia.

Mrs Clark, who lives in Horton, Stafford, paid tribute to her aunt, saying "she really was an amazing lady".

The 76-year-old said: "It came a huge shock to many.

"She was doing really well, and my grandchildren were taking selfies with her and she was knitting right up until the end.

"Violet really was an amazing lady, and she was loved by so many. The staff at Rylands were always fantastic and always went above their duty to make her happy.

"She always had a smile on her face and she loved her time at Rylands."

Mrs Edwards born in Beckbury, near Shifnal, where she lived for most of her childhood. She was the oldest of four sisters, and Mrs Clark said when her sister Dorothy died last year it really upset Mrs Edwards. "She was always smiling," Mrs Clark said. "But when her sister died last year I think it affected her more than she showed us. She was the eldest sister, and the last surviving one.

"Violet was well known in the Telford area as she did a lot of work with the scouts and cubs.

"If you were to ask anyone about Violet, I am sure they had something to do with her when she was in scouts and cubs." Mrs Edwards married Bill Edwards and the couple moved to Madeley.

She has one son, Peter, who lives in the USA, one granddaughter and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral for Mrs Edwards will take place on January 14 at 1.15pm at Emstrey Crematorium, in Shrewsbury. Everyone is welcome to attend.