A “remarkable” woman thought to have been the oldest person in Croydon has died aged 107.

Hilda Brown, of Thornton Heath, attributed her incredible longevity to a simple secret: regular glasses of brandy.

Her family this week paid tribute to a “unique” and “feisty” great-great-grandmother who retained her sense of humour until her final days.

Her daughter Cherry Brown, 67, said: “She is going to be really missed.
“She had the most amazing sense of humour, and a very strong character. 

“I suppose if you live that long you have to have a strong character.”

Mrs Brown was born in Jamaica and migrated to the UK with her husband Alexander, a postman, in 1952. 

They initially lived in Lambeth before moving to Thornton Heath 40 years ago.

The couple had seven daughters, four sons and 42 grandchildren, as well “too many” great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren to count, according to Cherry.

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Alexander and Hilda Brown moved to the UK in 1952

A housewife and devout Christian, Hilda spent much of her time looking after her family and helping out at church.

After the death of her husband 30 years ago, she continued living in their home in Cotford Road until 2013, when she moved into nearby Clarendon Nursing Home, where she died peacefully in her sleep on August 13.

Cherry, who lives in Oxfordshire, said: “She loved Croydon. There is a sense of community, although it has changed a lot now - in fact she bemoaned that it changed after Tesco moved in.

“People knew her, she used to sit on her wall and talk to people. 

“When her mobility deteriorated she used to sit at her window and wave to people and they would wave back. It is a very mixed community – not just West Indians but a variety of people. She loved that.”

Despite living through more than a century of technological progression, Hilda was unfazed by change and remained independent.

Her daughter said: “From 1908 to now; can you imagine how many changes? 

“There were two wars, numerous wars in fact. The simple thing I remember is microwaves. 

“I remember when they came out I thought she’d never learn how to use this, and she did. She was willing to try anything. I think if her fingers had been good she’d have been on the internet.

“She was always ready for change; she accepted change and welcomed it. 

“She had a range of friends - her friends have all died out but their children and their children’s children used to still visit her.

“She was just wonderful.”

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Cherry Brown with mum Hilda in Clarendon Nursing Home

Cherry added: "She wasn’t afraid to travel. 

“She was quite a feisty character. I think she was unique. 

“She had her faculties right until the end. She was mentally alert right until the very end, recognising people who came to see her even if she hadn’t seen them for ages. Her memory was just remarkable. 

“In the nursing home she was called Mama Hilda. 

“Staff just loved her. She didn’t like being treated like an invalid, she would insist on be feeding herself, doing what she could. 

“She enjoyed being the oldest person ever to live there."

Cherry believes her mum may have been the oldest person living in Croydon. And Hilda had no doubt about the reason for her long life.

Her daughter said: “She would tell anyone who asked that her secret for longevity was a drop of brandy.”

Hilda’s funeral service will be held at St Oswald’s Church in Green Lane, Norbury, at 11am tomorrow.

She will then be buried alongside her husband at Bandon Hill Cemetery in Wallington.

Do you know someone older than Hilda? Email newsdesk@croydonguardian.co.uk or call 020 8722 6350