CARING Mary Rolt died peacefully on June 24, three weeks from her 100th birthday.

She was born in a house in Spurlands End, Holmer Green, and lived there until she was 14. She was the middle of 13 children and went to Little Kingshill School in Windsor Lane.

At 15, she went into service in London as a housemaid for ten years, but then moved back to Holmer Green. Recently she had been living in Wendover Road, Aylesbury.

She was married to Fred, a landscape gardener, who she met when he was in the Navy during World War One. They married as he was discharged in 1926, on Christmas Eve.

He was a Baptist lay preacher and conducted the wedding services for his daughter Eileen and son Alan. He died in 1955 aged 54.

The couple had five children and Mrs Rolt worked in the kitchen of Dance and Hearne, a furniture factory in Penn Street. Later she worked in Paul's Cafe in Castle Street.

Son Robin, of Harries Way, Holmer Green, said: "She worked there for a good number of years and when she had finished there she worked in a childrens home in Cressex until she was 73.

"She did have a lot of energy and only finished there as she had slipped over and damaged her knees. She got over it but said she wouldn't go back to work again. Her family were very proud of her."

Mrs Rolt leaves children Robin, Alan, Eileen, Peter and the late Douglas. She also leaves grandchildren and great-grandchildren.