BIOGRAPHY

Thompson was born Ada Bates in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire, England, on 28 November 1910. She was a pupil at Lees School, and left at 14 to become a twister at Merralls Mill and later worked at other mills in Oxenhope. At 24, she married Eric Thompson, a wool sorter from Barnsley. During World War II, he served in the Royal Navy as a gunner on merchant ships. While he was away during the war, she worked at Anderton Springs, a factory producing aircraft components. They were married for 68 years until her husband’s passing around the year 2000 at the age of 91. The couple had one son, Harry.

With the help of carers, she was still able to live in her own home at the age of 105. By the time she turned 106, she had moved to Keighley’s Regency Court Care Home. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied, “I didn’t smoke and I didn’t drink. There are two good ones.”

Thompson passed away in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, on 13 March 2023, at the age of 112 years, 105 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of 108-year-old Ivy Clegg (9 October 1910 – 1 May 2019), she became the oldest known living person in West Yorkshire.

Thompson’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes, and validated by the ESO on 14 February 2021.

Following the passing of 111-year-old Marjorie Kinne on 24 January 2022, she became the last surviving British person born in 1910.

At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest living person in the United Kingdom, behind Ethel Caterham.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Cross Roads woman celebrates 100th birthday” – Telegraph & Argus, 30 November 2010

* “Royal recognition for Cross Roads resident Ada Thompson, 105” – Keighley News, 2 December 2015

* “Ada Thompson marks her 106th birthday at Keighley’s Regency Court Care Home” – Keighley News, 28 November 2016

* “Ada Thompson: England’s second oldest woman marks 112th birthday” – BBC, 28 November 2022

GALLERY