A "jolly soul" who died at the grand old age of 109 lived for so long because she had a strong zest for life, her family say.

Lily Winter, known as Betty, was born to a Victorian family in Orpington Road, Enfield in 1908 and lived through two world wars, three London Olympics and the reign of five monarchs.

During the Second World War, her family moved to Marshalls Drive, St Albans, to avoid the bombs. After the war, she took on the role of doting aunt by looking after her young nieces and nephews.

She had not been unwell for six years but contracted an infection that caused her death two days after her family and friends celebrated her milestone birthday earlier this month.

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While she never married or had children, she kept herself young by visiting her “boyfriends” - men who played golf near Spring View Care Home, Crescent Road, where she moved to at the age of 103.

Her nephew, Richard Brewster, said: "She preserved her independence to see what she called 'her boyfriends' - she used to like going down there to chat to the chaps who played golf, they all thought she was something of a hoot.

"She was a very jolly soul, I remember her playing games at Christmas and she always did very well in Musical Hats.

"She never smoked or drank - what an amazing recipe for a long life."

Betty, who had a twin brother, Howard, attended finishing school in Switzerland and her love of mountains and lakes grew out of those formative years.

But it was not until the start of the Second World War that she could claim a strong argument to leave home again and she jumped at the opportunity to help orphaned and evacuee children at Hollyshaw House near Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

She proudly kept her Women's Voluntary Service beret and WVS service medal, which her family believe was awarded to her for her service during the war years.

When her father died in 1953, she moved back to Enfield with her mother in The Ridgeway where she would practice music and kept a well-maintained garden.

But when she was 52, her mother died and she bought a maisonette in Lyndhurst Gardens, Enfield, where she lived for 52 years.

She attended many organ concerts and travelled extensively across Europe where she acquired a love of landscape photography.

Reluctantly, she had to abandon her piano because there was not enough space in her new house but played for children at Christ Church, Chase Side, Enfield, where she was an active parishioner.

At the age of 100 she was still visiting members of the congregation who were sick and called them “old folk”.

She only stopped travelling abroad at the age of 98 - and only because she had lost her passport. She took regular trips to Eastbourne and travelled with a major coach company.

Her nephew added: "In Lyndhurst Gardens she was known as the lady who always wore a hat and looked after other people by offered to do their shopping for them.

"The time came when at 103 she needed more help than she could offer others and she was persuaded to visit a care home to provide her friends and family with some respite. When she moved to Spring View, she continued to maintain her character and positive spirit whilst never missing an opportunity to have some fun."

He added: "She enjoyed her food but ate simply and not in excess, although she always insisted on two teaspoons of sugar in her tea. Betty will be sorely missed."

She leaves behind five nephews, one niece and her 15 great nephews and nieces as well as her recently acquired great, great, nephews and nieces.