Annie Rideout

BIOGRAPHY

Rideout was born as Phyllis Annie Margaret Topp above her family’s butcher’s shop in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England, on 21 July 1907. As a child, she moved with her parents, Douglas and Mabel Topp, and her brother, John, to nearby Lymington. After the culmination of World War I, the family relocated to Portland, Dorset, where she met her husband, Gideon Rideout, while working as a waitress.

Rideout and her husband had six children: Tony (1928), David (1939), Rosemary (1943), June (1946), Susan (1948), and Cavan (1949). During World War II, the family moved back to the New Forest, living with Rideout’s aunt in Tiptoe. Following the war’s end, they moved to New Milton, where they remained. Rideout was widowed in 1992.

In her centenarian years, Rideout credited her longevity to her family, whom she cherished, and her teetotalism; she also never smoked. One of her grandsons, Paul Rideout, was a professional football player who scored the winning goal in the 1995 FA Cup final. Her hobbies included biking and listening to rock and roll music.

Rideout died in her own home on 24 October 2017 at the age of 110 years, 95 days. She was survived by her six children, as well as 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Rideout’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and validated by the ESO on 30 October 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

• Annie Rideout, of New Milton, celebrated her 108th birthday with family and friends Southern Daily Echo, 31 July 2015
• Hampshire’s oldest resident, Annie Rideout from New Milton, celebrates 109th birthday with rock gig Southern Daily Echo, 27 July 2016
• Forest’s oldest resident reveals her secrets to living to 110! New Milton Advertiser, 21 July 2017

• Farewell Annie: New Forest’s oldest resident dies at age of 110 Bournemouth Echo, 28 October 2017

• Annie Rideout, believed to be Hampshire’s oldest, passes away Daily Echo, 28 October 2017

GALLERY

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