One of town's oldest residents dies at 103

Mrs Bullock had lived in her own home on Baldocks Lane up until three weeks before she passed away.

Her family had persuaded her to move into Egerton Lodge nursing home after a series of falls.

Her son, David (66), who lives in Melton, said: “Mum had this iron determination to live in her own home as long as she could.

“She didn’t smoke and didn’t drink a lot, which may have helped her live so long.”

Doris was born into a large family but her mother died when she was only two.

Her father was fighting in the First World War at the time so she went to live with her grandparents in Derbyshire.

She grew up with them after her father remarried following the Great War.

Doris married Jim, who died 12 years ago.

The couple had two children, David and Hilary (64).

Doris also had five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

David said his mother kept her sharp wits throughout her old age.

He said: “She did crosswords, she always read the Melton Times cover to cover and enjoyed watching Eggheads on the television.”

He added: “Up until 99 she used to catch the bus into Melton every week to have her hair done.”

A funeral will be held for Doris at St Mary’s Church, Melton, on December 22, with cremation at Loughborough.