Lilian Edna Till, (nee Hopkins) who was not expected to survive when she was born weighing only two-and-a-half pounds, has died at the age of 101.

Mrs Till, known as Auntie Lil, lived in Wootton Bassett since the age of four.

The family moved to the town from Maidenhead by horse-drawn wagon, after an overnight stop at Aldbourne, in 1913.

Mrs Till was the fifth (and last survivor) of seven children, whose father cut hay on Salisbury Plain for the Army’s horses during the First World War.

Her first job was as daily help at the old Post Office (now a restaurant) and delivering the North Wilts Herald and telegrams by bike for six shillings (30p) a week, plus 2d per telegram.

She joined the Young Farmers’ Pig Club, whose members had to rear a pig and then see it being slaughtered. This upset her, so she went to work in London as parlourmaid.

After three years she returned home and worked for her former school teacher in Bath Road where she met Archie Till, who was recuperating from a motorbike accident.

Five years later, in 1937, they married and settled in Bath Road and their daughters were born in 1939 and 1945. Now there are two grandchildren. Mr Till died in 1960.

Mrs Till loved her home and garden and played bingo and whist until her sight and hearing deteriorated. She also enjoyed Wednesday morning services at church.

At her funeral in St Bartholomew’s Church, her daughter, June Ponting-Fry, read her own poetic tribute, entitled The Last of the Line, in which she traced her mother’s life.

Mrs Till shared the home of her younger daughter and son-in-law until last autumn, when she moved to Ridgeway House.

Memorial donations for St Bartholomew’s Flower Guild may be sent to Maslin Funeral Service 118a High Street, Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.