Betty Dopson, who had a long career as a hairdresser in Devizes, died at the age of 100 on December 30 in the Seymour House Care home, Chippenham after a short illness.

She leaves behind daughter Margaret and eight grandchildren, along with many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

She was born in Rhondda, South Wales on June 4, 1914 and grew up there and in Devon before she and her family moved to Dauntsey when she was a teenager.

Mrs Dopson followed in her mother’s footsteps by working and having a family, which was not the norm in those days.

Her mother, Francis Gaudern, was a school headteacher and Mrs Dopson had wanted to become a teacher but she became deaf after an illness so followed her father into hairdressing.

Her father, Frederick Lewis, was a barber and had a shop in Northgate Street and then New Park Street.

Mrs Dobson did ladies hairdressing at the shop and when her father retired in 1959 she took over the whole business.

Many girls served their apprenticeships at her salon Louis before she retired aged 84 after 62 years as a hairdresser.

She married Patrick Dobson at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Chippenham in 1938. He served with the army in the Second World War and died when his wife was in her fifties.

They had two children, son Paddy who died 15 years ago, and daughter Margaret Hunter, who lives in Cornwall.

During the war Mrs Dopson drove from Dauntsey to Devizes for work, sometimes having to turn off the headlights as she travelled.

She then lived in the flat above her salon then at Eastleigh Road for about ten years in retirement, followed by Crammer Court. She moved to Seymour House care home, Chippenham in March 2014.

Granddaughter Emma Kearns said: “She had a great sense of humour and enjoyed getting her hair and nails done.

“She was a great follower of fashion and loved going to Country Casuals to buy their latest styles.

“So many people knew her and how much of a fun-loving person that she was.”

When she turned 100 in June last year Mrs Dopson had a birthday lunch at the Angel Hotel in Chippenham, where she had her wedding reception, along with a party at Devizes Sports Club.

Her funeral will be held at 11am on January 16 at the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church, Devizes followed by a burial at the Devizes cemetery.

Family flowers only but any donations to the Seymour House amenities fund.