FAMILY and friends of Florence ‘May’ Hayward celebrated her life on the day of what was meant to be her 100th birthday on Saturday (October 29), following the 99-year-old's peaceful death the day before.

Her sense of humour and her smile were one of many memories shared during the day at Jargeau Court on Saturday, where she spent the last ten years of her life.

Mrs Hayward, who always had her head in books, reading two to three books every week and writing 20 or so letters every week without fail, moved to Corsham aged 16 in 1933, where she worked as a house parlour maid.

Her love of dancing, which helped her to meet her husband Fred, who she married in Yatton Church in 1937, continued throughout her life and she was known to frequent the dance floor in the British Legion club most Saturday nights until the grand age of 95.

The 99-year-old, who also worked in Box Rubber Works, Corsham Brush Factory and Westinghouse Canteen, spent much of her life in great health, travelling to Spain for her 90th and 95th birthdays surrounded by family and friends.

She is remembered fondly by her daughter Ann, grandchildren Lynne and Neil and great-grandchildren Rachel and Elise.