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Ethel Lang: Britain's oldest person – the last Victorian – dies aged 114

Ethel was born in 1900 and lived independently until the age of 105

Lamiat Sabin
Friday 16 January 2015 11:00 GMT
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Ethel Lang was the oldest person in Britain until her death on 15 January 2014
Ethel Lang was the oldest person in Britain until her death on 15 January 2014 (Matione News/YouTube)

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Britain’s oldest person has died at the age of 114.

Ethel Lang passed away yesterday morning in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, the Water Royd House care home confirmed today.

She was also reportedly the eighth known oldest living person in the world having been born on 27 May 1900.

Mrs Lang was the only living British person to have been born during the reign of Queen Victoria and she lived to see six UK monarchs and 22 prime ministers.

She became the oldest person in the UK after Grace Jones, from London, died aged 113 in 2013.

Mrs Lang was born in Worsbrough, near Barnsley, and was the youngest daughter to miner Charles Lancaster and his wife Sarah.

She married William Lang when she was 22 and a year later gave birth to Margaret, who is now 89.

Mrs Lang, who enjoyed dancing and dressmaking, was widowed when her husband died in 1988. She lived independently until the age of 105.

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