VERA Locke, 103, of Royal Wootton Bassett, was one of a family of eight children, and spent her early years at Mildenhall, near Marlborough. She left home for the first time on the day she left school, aged 14, to work in service at Folly Farm, Savernake Forest.

At 18, Vera went to London, to work at a big house in Wimbledon, where she was soon being courted by Sidney Locke, the regular window cleaner. They were married in London in 1934, and had two daughters, Gill and Janice, and a loving family that included sons-in-law Bryan and Mick, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr Locke’s wartime service included his unit’s evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940, and while he was away on active service Mrs Locke and Gill lived with her parents, who by then ran a smallholding at Purton. Janice was born after the war, when the family was allocated a new house at Reids Piece.

Mr Locke was caretaker at St Mary’s School, Purton, and also took care of the church boiler. Vera was a school dinner lady, and also cleaned at the local GP surgery and the doctor’s house.

After Mr Locke’s death in 1971, Mrs Locke lived for a while at Dogridge before moving to Wootton Bassett, where she settled happily in a flat at The Lawns. She enjoyed cycling, shopping, cooking and knitting, regular contact with her family, and the company of many friends.

She played bingo weekly for more than 30 years, at the Memorial Hall and the Catholic Church hall.

The funeral was at Kingsdown Crematorium in Swindon on November 9. The Rev Judith Wells, who led the service of thanksgiving for Mrs Locke’s long life, said: “Despite a heart attack in her eighties and several mini-strokes, she kept going well, had good eyesight and a razor-sharp memory. Vera moved into the care of Ridgeway House only last year, when she had difficulty in coping independently.”

Music at the service included the song Wherever You Are, sung by the Military Wives conducted by Gareth Malone, the hymn Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, and Susan Boyle’s recording of Who I Was Born to Be.

The family welcomed the congregation to share refreshments and reminiscences afterwards at The Red House, Purton.

Memorial donations for Wiltshire Air Ambulance may be sent c/o Hillier Funeral Service, 170 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3DF.