Peggy Smith

BIOGRAPHY

Peggy Smith was born in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, England, on 9 December 1903. She was one of six children born to a village butcher. After training as a teacher at St Hilda’s College in Durham, she decided to join a government-sponsored scheme encouraging settlement on the Canadian prairies.

Together with a friend, she traveled to Saskatchewan and settled in Saskatoon, where she taught primary school children—at first commuting to school by horse and trap. In 1934, she married farmer Thomas Archibald Smith, who owned a large cereal farm. After many years of farming, the couple retired to Vancouver and traveled extensively across the United States. Following her husband’s passing, Smith returned to the UK, initially living with her sister in Newcastle. She later continued living independently until a fall in her centenarian years.

Peggy Smith passed away in Durham, County Durham, England, on 27 January 2014, at the age of 110 years, 49 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 10 February 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Durham supercentenarian celebrates 110th birthday – but doesn’t want any fuss” — The Northern Echo, 9 December 2013

* “North-East’s oldest person dies, aged 110 years and 49 days” — The Northern Echo, 31 January 2014

GALLERY

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