Tributes have been paid to Hyndburn’s oldest resident Alice Horne, following her death just weeks after celebrating her 109th birthday.
Alice, of Union Road in Oswaldtwistle, was the oldest living borough freeman and celebrated her most recent birthday on Saturday, February 6.
Alice was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in 2005 in recognition of her extensive charity work.
Her nephew, Kenneth Horne, who spent his childhood summer holidays with Alice, and as an adult visited her regularly at weekends with his partner Sandra Drysdale, spoke of his loss.
He said: “It won’t be an exaggeration to say she meant the world to us. We loved each other very much. I have truly treasured memories of going down to visit ‘Aunty Alice’s. I found the longer she lived the longer we expected her to live, she just seemed invincible. It’s not going to be easy without her.”
Kenneth said remarkable Alice, who learned to swim at the age of 70, was still going out to clubs several times a week when she was 103.
He added: “She had such a full life – it was so full of action. That was the secret of her life, don’t stop, keep busy. ‘If you sit on your bum all day you might as well start stuffing your coffin’, she used to say.”
Originally from Scotland and one of nine children, Alice contracted polio as a child and during the Second World War she was buried under the rubble of a matchstick factory after the German blitz on Liverpool.
At the age of 50, an accident left her confined to a wheelchair.
Former Hyndburn council leader and Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “I am deeply saddened by the death of Alice Horne, probably the oldest Freeman of the Borough in the country.
“Alice had a remarkable spirit and wonderful personality and it was a huge pleasure and privilege for me to make her a Freeman of the Borough when I was leader of the council.
“Alice’s smiling face will be remembered for a long, long time and I am sure that none of us who were involved will forget those fantastic birthday mornings as Alice progressed from 100 upwards.”
Alice Horne’s funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium at 3pm on Thursday, March 10. Flowers are welcome, but Alice stated she would prefer donations for Hyndburn Arthritis Care.
