One of Norfolk's oldest residents has passed away at the age of 108.

Pat Oram was born in Worthing, Sussex, in 1904 and moved to Belaugh near Wroxham 17 years ago.

Mrs Oram was brought up by her grandparents after her mother was seriously injured in a pony and trap accident when she was only a few months old. She began her education in Worthing and later went to a convent boarding school in France.

After a secretarial career she married Jerry when she was 25 and they remained happily married for 55 years. They lived in Liverpool and Yorkshire before moving to Cornwall, and there began her love affair with living by the sea. They moved around Cornwall and finally settled in Newquay.

When Jerry retired they moved to Malta where they lived for 15 years until he died in 1984.

Mrs Oram returned to England to live with her daughter, Jill, in Grantham and to be closer to her son, Barry and her five grandchildren – she was to become a much-loved great grandmother to ten great grandchildren.

In 1996, Pat and Jill moved to Belaugh in Norfolk where she enjoyed nothing more than to potter around in the garden and watch the boats go by.

Mrs Oram was an incredibly creative and talented lady who, having lived through two world wars, was thrifty and self-sufficient. She was a keen gardener, brilliant cook and talented seamstress who designed and made her own clothes.

In April 2007, Mrs Oram moved to the Mill House Nursing Home in Horstead. Each year in December she had a birthday party and was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the chairman of the council. During her 105th birthday party she was overheard asking 'How old did you say I was, dear?' and on hearing her age, replied 'that's absolutely ridiculous'. She was very proud of the five birthday cards which she received from the Queen.

Mrs Oram attributed her longevity to being very fortunate with her general health. She enjoyed a healthy diet but liked nothing more than a scone with clotted cream and plenty of butter on her bread. Although in her latter years her eyesight and hearing were failing, her brain was still sharp and she never lost her wonderful sense of humour.

She died peacefully on October 12.

According to her wishes, there will be a small family funeral later this month with a memorial service to be held in the spring to celebrate her life.

Family flowers only. Donations to the RNLI, her favourite charity, would be gratefully received through Murrell Cork Funerals, 57a Mundesley Road, North Walsham, NR28 ODB.