Matilde Coulter

BIOGRAPHY

Coulter was born Matilde Gentili in the comune of Bovino in the province of Foggia, Apulia, Italy, on 30 March 1909. When Matilde was just 10 years old, her father passed away, leaving behind his wife and four children. Shortly afterward, Matilde moved to Rome, where she lived with an aunt and attended a French convent school.

Later, Matilde married Cliff Coulter, a British man employed by Fox Films in Rome. She began working in the company’s accounts department before the couple relocated to England when the Second World War broke out. They spent the war years in Northamptonshire before eventually returning to Italy.

In 1959, Matilde’s husband passed away. She remained in Italy, living with her extended family, but frequently traveled to England, particularly to Hatfield, where she stayed with her son, John, and his family. At the age of 103, Matilde moved in with John and his wife, Norma, in Hatfield. Shortly before her 110th birthday, she relocated to Shenley.

Coulter attributed her longevity to maintaining a positive attitude, keeping her mind active, and never giving up. Even into her 90s, she was still catching buses around Rome, crafting exquisite embroidered items for her family, and preparing delicious Italian meals.

Matilde Coulter passed away in Barnet, London, England, on 19 January 2021, at the age of 111 years, 295 days.

RECOGNITION

Coulter’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and Paolo Scarabaggio, and was validated by the ESO on 7 November 2020.

At the time of her passing, she was the fourth-oldest living person in the UK, after Lilian Priest, Gertrude Kingston, and Mollie Walker.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Shenley resident celebrates her 110th birthday” – Borehamwood Times, 20 April 2019

GALLERY

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