A CENTENARIAN who was serenaded by Wroughton Silver Band on her 100th birthday last year has died at her Broad Hinton home.

Doris Reekie will be remembered by all her family and friends as a loveable, warm character who told the Advertiser last year that the secret to a long and happy life was just good sense.

Her daughter, Veronica Swadden, 67, who lived with her mum, said today's funeral would be a celebration of her life more than mourning her death.

She said: "I'm glad that she had such a special day before she passed away.

"We've had her here so long it's difficult to take in that she has died, but we want to have a celebration of who she was, because she was so gracious and always had a smile on her face."

Doris died peacefully on Guy Fawkes Night at her home, where she lived with Veronica, Veronica's husband, Rex, granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Rosemary and Ian Aves, and great-grandson, Robert, 20.

A dressmaker, Doris was born in 1900 in London and grew up in the city before moving to Dorchester where she met husband Norman.

The funeral was due to take place at Kingsdown Crematorium at noon today, followed by a service at the Church of St Peter Advincula in Broad Hinton at 2.30pm.