TRIBUTES have begun pouring in for Ada Bastin, who, at the age of 103, had been Budleigh Salterton's oldest resident.

TRIBUTES have begun pouring in for Ada Bastin, who, at the age of 103, had been the town's oldest resident.

Ada Bastin, of Queens Road, who spent her last years living at Shandford Residential Care Home, will be best remembered by all who knew her for having a 'twinkle in her eye' and for playing a mean game of Scrabble.

Budleigh's mayor, councillor Courtney Richards, who regularly attended Ada's milestone birthday parties, said: "She was a genuinely nice person.

"I used to enjoy talking to her because she knew my father and could remember more about me than I could."

Ada's niece, Cynthia Hopton from Exeter, said: "We are all going to miss her. She was part of our family for such a long time.

"She was always there for us. She was a happy person and loved life.

"She loved to be part of everything and was known by a lot of people."

Ada was born at her parents' home in Moor Lane on August 28, 1906.

She was one of eight children born to labourer Robert Bastin and his wife, Lucy.

She was able to trace her family back more than 250 years in Budleigh and Otterton.

A pupil at St Peter's School until the age of 13, Ada's earliest memory was from 1911 when she received a commemorative mug to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

After leaving school she entered domestic service, with her first job paying �20 a year.

Her wages were paid to her mother until she reached 16.

Keen to visit London, she left sleepy Budleigh for the hustle and bustle of the capital where she worked for a family in Kensington.

Ada returned to Budleigh in 1943 to escape the Blitz and to care for her sick parents.

She took a job at the Lawn Bakery where she stayed until her retirement. Ada never married, or had children.

Speaking to the Journal on her 100th birthday, in August 2006, Ada said she had 'no idea' how she had reached such an age, saying it was 'sheer luck'.

l Ada Bastin's funeral will be held at Exeter Crematorium on Friday, February 19, at 2.45pm.