by Sue Read

AT 105, Margaret Ware was Britain’s oldest Leap Year baby, older even than any in the USA.

Mrs Ware died on November 27 with her funeral service being held at the Exeter and Devon Crematorium on December 12. The service was taken by the Rev Brian Shillingford.

Born on February 29, 1912, Mrs Ware always joked that when she turned 100, she had celebrated only 25 birthdays on the right day. In another two months she would have been 106 years, or 26.

A Hampshire lady, Mrs Ware had grown up and got married to John in Lymington. She had left school at 14 to go into service, earning 10 shillings (50 pence) a week from which she would pay her mother for her keep. Her maiden name was Kingwell.

She and John met in Southampton and married in December 1933. He died in August, 1985, so they had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Shortly after Mrs Ware moved to Crediton to be near her daughter.

Her husband had worked at Southampton airport during World War Two and Mrs Ware remembered their house shaking during bombing.

She was a remarkable lady, living in her own home until quite recently. Even after she was 100 she would catch the bus at the top of her road and go off to different places for the day. She had two daughters and a son, one of her grandsons, Mark, was manager of the TSB Bank in Crediton until it closed some years ago, living with his Nan for a time.

At Mrs Ware’s funeral service Mark spoke about how his grandmother could be cantankerous, how she brought joy, made him laugh, and helped him. How his grandmother had enjoyed playing cards and going to bingo sessions.

He said that while her body had failed her, her mind was still “as sharp as a knife” and that it had been a privilege to have known her.

Another grandson, Keith, said she had given the family “a lifetime of memories to reflect on” adding “capture the precious good ones and remember them”.

Mrs Ware had five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Explaining her birthdays, Keith added that she had received two birthday telegrammes from the Queen, the second when she was 105.

Th family thanked the staff of Kenwyn Residential Care Home where Mrs Ware had lived for the past few months.

Any donations in Mrs Ware’s memory were given to The Dogs Trust and may still be sent via A White and Sons, Albert Road, Crediton EX17 2BZ.