PERSHORE centenarian Gee Nelmes died last Thursday at her home in Ganderton Court, with her husband Alec at her side. She was 103.

Born at Cricklewood, London, her father was a premier champagne importer and among his clientele were celebrities and socialites of the day.

Her first job, aged 16, was to recite poetry at the Sunday afternoon concert at the Albert Hall to the troops. This led on to her participation in many other London shows, including a Jack Buchanan production at the Comedy Theatre, and another at the London Palladium where Jack Hulbert was the star. She was in most of the Charlotte Reviews of the 1920s.

She met her husband Alec in 1938 and they were married in 1941. Over the years they shared a number of businesses, the most recent was Beautiful Clothes in Pershore.

Most of her life was spent in serving others. In the early 1960s she was one of Worcestershire's first Samaritans. She and Alec attended the inauguration of Swimming for the Disabled (Paddlers) in August, 1980. Every Monday evening until her late 90s she provided home-made cakes and biscuits for the swimmers.

In July 1981 Gee heard of newstapes for the blind and after contacting 25 blind people in Pershore they started to raise £3,000 with knitting, sewing and raffles for the equipment, and Pershore Talking Newspaper was started. Over the years numbers have grown to well over 100 tapes. Gee copies the tapes every other Wednesday in time for Alec to catch the 5pm post. She was also secretary to the organisation until her retirement in 1995.

Gee's 100th birthday was celebrated with a party at Wychavon District Council Civic Centre with the chairman of Wychavon, the mayor and mayoress of Pershore, and dozens of friends, including Toyah Wilcox, Gee's goddaughter. Their diamond wedding celebration was also an important day to both of them, held at Ganderton Court.

Councillor Ralph Mason said: "Despite her age, Gee was full of enthusiasm and energy. She was always kindly and concerned but was resolute in standards being upheld."

The funeral service and interment takes place at St Ann's Church, Wyre Piddle, tomorrow (Friday) at 1pm.