One of Wolverhampton's oldest residents dies aged 104

When Frances Wilkinson was born on April 9, 1910, King Edward VII was on throne, the suffragette movement was rising, and Liberal Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith was Prime Minister.

At the age of just 21, she was told she would never walk again and that she should never have children.

But she went on to defy all the odds – having two daughters and pursuing her love of ballroom dancing until the age of 94.

She has even travelled around the world twice with her late husband Frank and travelled to New Zealand five times.

Her eldest daughter Jeanette Clarke, 76, said: "She was a very determined lady who was kind and generous.

"She loved dancing - ballroom dancing was her big passion.

She was 104 and nine months and we hoped she was going to get to 105 to get her sixth card off of the Queen.

"When we registered her death the registrar told us that mum was the eldest she had come across as did the funeral directors."

Youngest daughter Carol Parker, 69, who has returned home from New Zealand said: "She was a life is a glass half full person as opposed to a glass half empty.

"She was incredibly social even though she was always so busy.

"She was an only child and had to look after both her parents as well as bring up a family.

"She had an amazing love for life and I think that is why she lived so long.

"She had a great enthusiasm for young people and was always up-to-date about what was going on."

Mrs Wilkinson lived in Waverley Avenue, Perton, and lived a healthy life until falling ill at the end of 2014.

She was being cared for in New Cross Hospital before returning home where she passed away on January 4.

She is survived by her two daughters, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will take place on January 28 at 12.15pm at Perton Church before a cremation in the West Chapel in Bushbury at 1.30pm.