TRIBUTES have been paid to a “wonderful” Aberystwyth woman who passed away at the remarkable age of 102.

Lorna Merry, who was born in Columbo, Ceylon – modern day Sri Lanka – on 3 June 1914, moved from Reading to Aberystwyth with her husband Raymond in 2003, where they lived at the Gerddi Rheidol sheltered accommodation in Trefechan.

Lorna was head cook at several primary schools in Berkshire, a very active member and president of the local WI, and a member of the Spencers Wood Songsters, a local choir in Reading.

After marrying Jackie in 1970, Lorna’s only child, Roger, had two sons, Matthew and Jonathan, before moving to work at the then Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research at Plas Gogerddan, near Penrhyncoch, in 1991.

Sadly, Ray died after six months and Lorna continued to live at Gerddi Rheidol, and regularly visited the day centre before it was moved to its new location in the old Town Hall.

In 2010, Lorna moved to Cysgod-y-Coed residential home in Llanilar, where she had a very happy time and celebrated reaching her 100th birthday in June 2014.

Roger said: “She was a much loved, wonderful and very supportive mother and always wanted the best for me; I lacked for nothing even in my latter years.

“She had an exceptionally long and productive life and will be sorely missed.

“Family always came first and she was greatly loved by her grandsons, Matthew and Jonathan, and her great-grandchildren, Thomas, Isobel, Rebekah, Harry and Arthur.”

The funeral will take place at Aberystwyth Crematorium at 11am on Tuesday, 14 February.