BIOGRAPHY

Farmer was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England, on 24 June 1914. After gaining a place at the prestigious Tonbridge Grammar School, she joined the Erie Electronics Company in London in 1937, where she worked as the secretary and personal assistant to the managing director. Due to the firm’s national and strategic importance, the War Office ordered it to relocate from the capital in 1944 to avoid the risk of enemy bombing. The company moved to Great Yarmouth. She retired from Erie in 1973 and eventually stepped down from work entirely after a few years of temporary positions. She spent some of her retirement travelling, mainly in Europe.

After fracturing her hip in 2008, she moved into a residential care home. When she was 108, the manager of her residential care home described her as an intelligent woman who spoke fluent French. She added that she remained mobile, walked every day, and read the newspaper each morning. She enjoyed reading and conversing with the staff.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes, and validated by the ESO on 8 July 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Gorleston writer makes her own headlines after turning 100” – Great Yarmouth Mercury, 28 June 2014

* “Birthday card plea for ‘amazing’ Rita who is turning 108” – EDP24, 16 May 2022

* “Is 109-year-old Rita Farmer Norfolk’s oldest woman?” – Great Yarmouth Mercury, 27 June 2023

GALLERY