TRIBUTES have been paid to a 103-year-old great grandmother.

Lifelong Farnworth resident Freda Yates died peacefully at Euxton Park Nursing Home on Tuesday, February 18.

Mrs Yates featured in The Bolton News when she celebrated her 100th birthday and was honoured as Asda Farnworth’s oldest customer.

Her daughter Pauline Radford, aged 71, said: “She was always smiling, always up for a laugh.

“Her determination and love of life kept her going. Looking after children on her own during the war made her very headstrong and that’s the kind of person she was — she took no nonsense from us.

“The day before she died, her great grandchildren came to visit her.

“Even though she couldn’t speak, she knew who they were and why they were there.

“She was a lovely person and she was adored her family.”

Mrs Yates was born in Oak Street, Farnworth, on December 7, 1910, and worked as a cotton weaver from her mid-teens until she had children.

During World War Two, she brought up Pauline as well as her son Brian and was married to Herbert who died in 1982.

Mrs Yates had three children, Brian Yates, Mrs Radford and Geoffrey Yates; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She moved to Thomas Garnet Court in Glynne Street, Farnworth, about 20 years ago.

While at the sheltered housing development, she was actively involved in dancing and even featured in a pantomime performance of Cinderella as the fairy godmother — at the age of 100.

Mrs Radford said: “Right up until my mother left, she was involved in all the social activities — she liked to socialise, she was a people person.”

Angie Morgan, scheme manager at Thomas Garnet Court, added: “Freda was so young for her age — she never even classed herself as being old.

“Everybody here loved her and there was never a bad word said about her.”

Mrs Yates also volunteered as an escort on a coach for residents with learning difficulties at The Harrowbys care home in Harrowby Street, Farnworth. She broke her ankle last November and had to be admitted to an interim care home before being brought to Euxton Park Nursing Home in January.

Michelle Hook, senior health care assistant at Euxton Park, said: “Freda was lovely, she always wanted to be part of things.

“Even though she was 103 she looked like the life and soul of the party. She will be sorely missed.”

Her funeral will be at Overdale Crematorium on Tuesday.