One of Rainham’s oldest residents was laid to rest last week.

The family of Violet Watts bid a final farewell to the 105-year-old at South Essex Crematorium in Corbets Tey Road,Upminster last Friday.

Violet’s grandson, John Dobinson said: “She had a really good send over.

“She would have been really proud of the day and happuy with how everything went.”

Violet was taken on a horse drawn hearse from her home in Eastwood Drive, Rainham to the crematorium.

The service, saw Violet’s family reminiscing about her life spent in Rainham, followed by a reception in the Huntsman’s Pub in Upminster.

John said: “Everything went to plan, it was exactly as she would have wanted it.

“And there were quite a few people that turned up.”

The grandmother died on Wednesday October 24 at Queen’s Hospital in Rom Valley Way, Romford from end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The last week of Violet’s life was traumatic.

She was struck on her head by a heavy metal oxygen regulator after it fell from a shelf during a journey from Durham House Care Home in Upminster to Queen’s Hospital.

An urgent investigation has since been launched into what happened.

Violet, who lived in Rainham all her life was born in 1907.

She was the only child of a farm labourer and a housewife.

Violet went to Whybridge School in Blacksmiths Lane, Rainham until she left school at the age of 13 to work in a factory in Purfleet.

In 1929, Violet married the love of her life, William Watts at St Helen and St Giles Church in Rainham.

Violet, who lived in Rainham all her life put her long life down to plenty of salt in her diet and a whisky in her tea in the mornings.

John said: “She always ignored doctor’s orders and had lots of salt.

“The most important thing for her was that she was able to be independent and to stay in Rainham, she never wanted to life anywhere else.”