The Wimbledon community has paid tribute to a charitable pensioner who worked in Oxfam until she was nearly a century old.

Irrepressible Letizia Butcher died two weeks ago aged 100 and was a well known face in the Broadway, volunteering at the charity shop up until last year.

Close friend Paola Francia-Gardiner, said: “I’d known her for so long, ever since I started running an antiques fair in Wimbledon about 30 years ago, and during all that time she had worked in Oxfam.

“She was not only an incredible cheerful person but so dynamic and worked every day until she was 99. She had so many friends in the community and was a real sweetie, so so bright.

“I guess it just goes to show that by keeping yourself active and busy you can lead a long and happy life.”

Letizia was Italian by birth but moved to Wimbledon when she was 50 year old.

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