TRIBUTES are being paid to a 'remarkable lady' hailed the oldest resident in Middlewich who has died aged 107.

Globetrotting Ethel Hickson has flown to Australia, Canada, Mexico, Austria and Spain and visited America 17 times.

The much-loved lady still did her own supermarket shopping, cooking, cleaning and washing as well as some gardening!

Ethel's parents Lucy and Arnold Clark brought her up in the countryside in Newton Heath, Middlewich, near to where she still lived.

Ethel was just one when the First World War broke out.

Northwich Guardian:

Ethel celebrating her 106th birthday last year

Speaking to The Guardian on her 106th birthday last year, Ethel said: "Doctors keep asking me what my secret is and I have not got one, I just keep on going.

"I used to be able to walk through Middlewich and see someone I knew. It's not quite like that any more.

"I wish people would smile more. It always used to be a very friendly place. We just grew up and had fun in the streets playing hopscotch. Life was happy and we never had many possessions."

She was one of the first pupils to study at Middlewich High School after attending the CofE Infants School on Leadsmithy Street.

After leaving school at 14, Ethel became an apprentice at the Lily Works factory.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, aged 26, Ethel went to work at Rolls Royce and helped to make spitfire engines to help with the war effort.

She later moved to the Silk Works and Powell's Factory.

Northwich Guardian:

Ethel was inundated with cards on her 106th birthday

A lifelong committed Methodist, Ethel met her husband Richard Alvin Hickson, known as Alvin, at Middlewich Methodist Church after the war. He was stationed in Palestine and Egypt during the conflict.

The couple shared 34 happy years together.

After Alvin died in 1982, she was invited by her cousin Geraldine for a holiday in America.

Ethel flew by plane for the first time the following year aged 71 and developed a passion for travel. She spent one birthday in Australia and 16 travelling across the United States visiting relatives.

One of Ethel's only regrets is that she never got to see Africa.

Northwich Guardian:

Ethel celebrating her 100th birthday with her family from America

Friend and neighbour Joan Newton said: "It is with deep sadness to tell you that Ethel passed away on Christmas Eve."

Doris Betts said: "So sad, lovely lady."

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Lesley Birchall said: "I remember her very well from Tesco. She was a remarkable lady and will be missed by so many."

Ann Johnson said: "Ethel, you were a lovely lady. We live at the bottom of your garden and were always amazed to hear your gardening even after you were 100 years old! Fantastic lady."

Liz Prime added: "Remember her so well from coming to the library and attending the chapel."

Sylvia Richardson said: "Lovely,lovely lady, always got a smile."

Ethel's funeral is on Monday, January 13 at 1pm at the Methodist Church on Booth Lane followed by internment at Middlewich Cemetery.