One of Wales’ oldest residents, Violet Lewis, has died peacefully at Nevill Hall Hospital at the age of 106.

Violet, who was born and raised in Brynmawr and lived for many years in Abergavenny, had been a resident of Penpergwm House residential home for the past six years.

She was born in the year when Louis Bleriot made the first powered flight across the English Channel and Ernest Shackleton and his team reached the magnetic South Pole.

An ardent socialist from an early age, Aneurin Bevan once held his surgeries in her mother’s house and later Labour MP Donald Anderson was a frequent visitor. Now Lord Anderson of Swansea, he has remained a family friend.

One of Violet’s political heroes was Harold Wilson.

Violet’s daughter Ruth Bolter recalls the occasion when she and her mother were at a public meeting in Cardiff to hear a speech by Wilson, and Violet became so incensed by a heckler in the row behind that she got up and smacked him with her umbrella.

“The police asked us to leave!” said Ruth. “It was quite funny really because Harold Wilson quite enjoyed dealing with hecklers, so mum needn’t have worried.”

Violet had voted in every election since 1931 - given her age, her first opportunity after women won the vote - and had lived through the terms of 19 prime ministers.

“She even used her postal vote in the general election this year!” said Ruth. “In fact it made her angry when people didn’t use their vote. Her argument was if you don’t vote you can’t complain about what happens.”

The eldest of three sisters, Violet came from a mining family in Brynmawr. She grew up with her grandparents, who were both blind. Aged just 12 she was responsible for washing and dressing them and making their breakfast before going to school.

Violet was exceptionally bright and gained a scholarship to the county school but, because of her family responsibilities and the prevailing attitude to the education of women, her grandparents were not prepared to buy the required schoolbooks and she was never able to take up her place. Given the chance she said she would one day have liked to become a teacher.

As she grew up Violet had virtually no life outside the family home. Any leisure time revolved around Bethesda Chapel services, the Band of Hope and choir practice. She ‘signed the pledge’ not to drink alcohol or go into public houses - and stuck to it all her life. A summer ‘holiday’ would see her hop-picking in Herefordshire.

Her grandparents died when she was 16 and Violet went into domestic service - first at the private residence of the matron of Ebbw Vale Hospital and later for the Ruther (greengrocery) family in Abergavenny.

From childhood Violet loved reading and sewing. She was still making her own clothes until the age of 99 (including the blue dress in the photograph).

“It became a bit of a problem in recent years because she refused to wear the clothes I bought for her - insisting on wearing those she had made herself, which were becoming threadbare,” said Ruth.

“She was also a fantastic baker - her Victoria sponges and custard slices were legendary. When I asked one of my daughters if she’d like a keepsake of her grandmother she said she wanted one of her aprons!”

In 1942 Violet married Ivor Lewis, who came from Mardy and worked for London Midland and Scottish Railway. They lived in Monmouth Road, Abergavenny.

Violet carried on living there after Ivor died in 1986, looked after by her son Glyn, until she was 100.

Ruth thinks that, if there was any ‘secret’ to her mother’s longevity, it was that she worked so hard all her life.

As well as her daughter Ruth and son Glyn, Violet had four grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

“She was a family person first, last and always,” said Ruth. “Even people who were very distantly related were warmly welcomed into her home.

“She had received very little formal education but she was never just a woman up to her arms in soapsuds - there was always a lot going on in her head.”

The family are holding a service at St David’s Church, Llanddewi Rhydderch on August 14 at 12 noon to celebrate her life and they’d be delighted for ‘old friends and neighbours’ to join them.

Politically driven, sharp-witted, plain speaking to the very last and eyewitness to a century of remarkable changes, Violet Lewis will be fondly remembered - and sorely missed - by countless people from across the generations.