Tributes have been paid to Gravesend's oldest resident, who has died aged 109.

Surrounded by her friends at the Orchard Care home in Gravesend, Ivy Woolcock passed away peacefully in her sleep earlier this month.

Originally from Sittingbourne, Ivy had been a resident of the Old Road East care home since 2005 and had lived in Gravesend for 90 years.

She was born on March 5, 1911 – a whole year before the Titanic sunk – and became Gravesend's oldest resident after turning 109 this year.

Ann Jones, Ivy's eldest daughter, said: "More than anything, my mother was 109 and three quarters and in some ways this defined her.

"How can I describe her being gone? I knew perfectly well that it would happen one day but it is still very difficult to believe she is no longer there.

"This is enhanced by the Covid restrictions which prevented me from seeing her more than a few times this summer.

"To someone who never met her, I'd say she was a cup-half-full person, always appreciative and grateful for her life.

"She just loved being with all her family and had a great gift for friendship.

"My fondest memory of her is mine alone but I look back with great pleasure to the many holidays we shared and the many laughs too."

Ivy trained as a buyer at Harrods before working at John Lewis's flagship store in London's Oxford Street.

The avid traveller then gave up that work to care for her two children, Ann and Elizabeth.

She married Francis Woolcock, who was a pilot stationed in North Africa during the Second World War, at St John The Evangelist in Bexley Village.

Ann added: "Mum remained astonishingly bright almost to the end and loved nothing more than taking part in quizzes and sharing in crosswords.

"This made her easy company and the pleasure was mutual. Everything about her was positive, she never had a negative word to say."

She leaves two daughters, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Due to Covid restrictions, only invited guests can attend the funeral on Wednesday, January 6.

There will be a service at Christ Church, Old Road East, followed by a short service at the Thames View Crematorium.

A remembrance service and celebration of Ivy's life will be held in the summer for others to attend.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend