TRIBUTES were today paid to a 107-year-old who was believed to be Suffolk's oldest lady.

TRIBUTES were today paid to a 107-year-old who was believed to be Suffolk's oldest lady.

Florence Teager, who died in hospital on February 24, was remembered for her warmth and kindness by those who knew her.

Pat Palmer, of Prince of Wales House, where Florence spent her final year, said: “She was like a breath of fresh air.

“We talked a lot about the past, about how Ipswich used to be.

“She was so caring and always thinking about others. When I returned to work after being ill she was the first asking me how I was.

“We will miss both her and her family.”

Florence, or Flo as she preferred, was an Ipswich native.

Born into Edwardian England in 1902, she spent her early years between school in London Road and home in Handford Road.

At 14, Flo left the classroom to go and work in Pretty's corset factory.

She later had a job at the sugar beet factory and became a crane driver at Ransomes and Rapiers during the Second World War.

In 1923, aged 21, she married Charles and went on to raise a family.

During her 107 years, Flo lived through many of the world's great events - a royal abdication, the moon landing, the fall of communism - but rarely was she more happy than while at home in Rectory Road.

Along with sipping brandy and orange and tucking into meat pudding, her greatest pleasure was her family.

Flo described them as her hobby - and with two daughters, four grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren, she was kept busy.

During her 107th birthday celebrations in January, daughter Joan said: “She's amazing.

“She still has all her faculties and, even at her age, she still tells me what to do.”

Flo spent the last 12 months of her life at the Prince of Wales House care home.

Her funeral was due to take place at 3.30pm today in the west chapel of Ipswich Crematorium.