| Ellen Watson | |
 | |
| Birth: | 3 January 1900 Thornton Heath, Surrey, England, UK |
| Death: | 15 December 2011 Staines, Surrey, England |
| Age: | 111 years, 346 days |
| Country: |  UK
|
| Validated | |
Ellen Watson (née Thorpe; 3 January 1900 – 15 December 2011) was a British supercentenarian whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Watson was born in Pawsons Road in Thornton Heath, near Croydon, Surrey, England, on 3 January 1900 as the youngest of 10 children. During World War I, she worked in an ammunition factory. She later married and had a daughter, Audrey, but her husband died 11 months after their daughter's birth. Watson's mother was tragically killed by a tram, and Watson and her daughter witnessed the entire incident. She worked in a warehouse as a cook.
Watson remarried to Samuel Watson in 1924. The couple moved to Staines in 1959 with Audrey and her husband. They later moved to Ashford with Watson's two grandchildren, Janet and Jonathan. The Watsons lived there until Samuel Watson died in 1974, shortly after their golden wedding anniversary after suffering from a long illness. Watson herself continued to live there until she was a centenarian.
Later Life[]
Watson moved into a care home aged 100. In her later years, she became an honorary member of the local fire brigade. On her 111th birthday in 2011, it was reported that she was a great-great-great grandmother, having had one daughter, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild. She enjoyed playing bingo and claimed the secret to a long life is "positive thinking and a good diet", which included her favourite breakfast of bacon and eggs. She never smoked nor drank alcohol, apart from a sherry on special occasions.
Watson died in Staines, Surrey, England, on 15 December 2011 at the age of 111 years, 346 days. She was the third-oldest person in the UK after Violet Wood and Grace Adelaide Jones.
Gallery
References[]
- 2010 validations Gerontology Research Group
- All Validated British Supercentenarians Oldest in Britain
- Ellen rings in new year at 110 The Express, 1 January 2010
- 111-year-old born in Croydon celebrates New Year's birthday Sutton & Croydon Guardian, 4 January 2011
- Remarkable Staines gran celebrates 111th birthday Surrey Live, 5 January 2011
- ENGLAND’S THIRD OLDEST LADY Lodge Brothers, 13 January 2012