BIOGRAPHY

Jane Webster was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, on 17 April 1906. She met her husband, Walter, while he was on a cycling tour of Northern Ireland. After marrying, she moved with him to his hometown of Aberdeen, and later to Dundee. In her younger years, Jean enjoyed playing the piano by ear and could sing all the old tunes and carols with little prompting.

In the mid-1930s, they relocated to London in search of work, where their only child, Maureen (née Cleary), was born. Earlier in life, Jean had worked in Belfast’s renowned linen mills and cared for her younger siblings after the early deaths of their parents. In Dundee, she was employed in the jute factories, and in London, she worked in the canteens at Smith’s Industries and for Willesden Borough Council. Jean and Walter enjoyed touring the UK—mainly Scotland—and parts of Europe on his Panther motorbike with a sidecar.

After Walter’s passing in 1973, Jean lived independently in Ramsgate. She remained active, welcoming frequent visits from family and friends, and continued to do all her own cooking and cleaning. At the age of 98, she moved in with Maureen and her husband Jim in Mill End, where she lived with them until the age of 108. At the age of 110, she had  two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren. She credited her longevity and good health to hard work, often telling those who asked just how difficult life had been—especially during her youth in Belfast.

Jane Webster passed away in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, on 31 October 2017, at the age of 111 years, 197 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the passing of 108-year-old Elsie Augusta King (3 August 1905 – 20 February 2014), she became the oldest known living person in Oxfordshire. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Doris Kate Field (9 November 1909 – 24 March 2018) of Witney.

Webster’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and validated by the ESO on 27 March 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Cake and candles as Jean makes it to ripe old age of 109” – Belfast Telegraph, 18 April 2015

* “110-year-old is oldest living woman from Northern Ireland” – Henley Standard. 25 April 2016

* “Jean Celebrates Her 111th Birthday” – Henley Herald. 18 April 2017

* “Jean Webster, longest-lived person born in Northern Ireland” – Henley Standard. 13 November 2017

GALLERY