A NEWPORT resident who was the last known surviving woman in Britain to have served in the First World War has died.

Violet Hughes turned 106 in January, when the Argus celebrated the achievements of a remarkable person.

She was born in the last year of Queen Victoria's reign, on January 14, 1901 and moved to Newport from Bristol when she was three years old.

Mrs Hughes, who lived on Orchard Road for 50 years, joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps when she was a teenager.

She told the Argus she remembered her years of service as having "a real sense of togetherness".

She was among 20,000 female comrades in the war who helped keep the army fed and ready for action in messes across the UK.

After leaving the army, Mrs Hughes worked as a waitress in restaurants in Newport and married Robert in St Mary's Church, Maindee, in 1925. They had two sons, Fred and Les, four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

She told us in January that the secret of her longevity was to "just go along with the flow".

Among those who visited Mrs Hughes on her birthday was Newport's mayor, Councillor Miqdad Al-Nuaimi. She was living in Belle View Care Home where she died on Thursday afternoon.

* On Sunday, another Newport resident died, aged 102.

Joseph Egan, who lived at Wellwood House, was born in Newport and was the father of two sons. The grandfather and great grandfather was a driver from age of 17 until he retired at 75. He was 90 when he finally gave up the wheel and had a clean driving licence.

Last month, Alice Sutton, who was born in Tregare and used to run the Ship Inn, Raglan, died aged 104.