BIOGRAPHY

Gwen Payne was born in Bromley, London, England, on 5 August 1907. When Gwen finished primary school, her parents believed she was bright enough to attend university. However, her true passion was to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. Her father took her to the University of Cambridge on a motorbike, with Gwen riding in the sidecar. She failed her exam and, instead of attending Cambridge, secured a place at the Slade.

Gwen had two sons, Nicholas and Sebastian. Her husband, John, a solicitor at Lincoln’s Inn, passed away in 1961 at the age of 48. The couple moved to Gracious Lane in 1946, renting a cottage next to Weald Place, which was then owned by Percy Hodder-Williams, chairman of the publishing company Hodder & Stoughton. Percy was Gwen’s great-uncle. She spent the rest of her life living there.

At 112, she was reported to be in good health, wearing a hearing aid, and still remembering key events from the past.

RECOGNITION

Payne became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom after the passing of Grace Catherine Jones on 7 June 2019. She was also the last surviving person in the UK born in 1907. Following her own passing, Hilda Clulow became the country’s oldest living person.

Payne’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and validated by the ESO on 16 January 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “The oldest living person in the UK lives in a cottage in Sevenoaks” – Kent Live, 8 August 2019

GALLERY