ONE of Felixstowe's oldest residents has died less than two months after reaching the milestone of her 100th birthday.Great-grandmother Alice May Cracknell, who was known by her middle name, had put her longevity down to her clean living.

ONE of Felixstowe's oldest residents has died less than two months after reaching the milestone of her 100th birthday.

Great-grandmother Alice May Cracknell, who was known by her middle name, had put her longevity down to her clean living.

The centenarian told The Evening Star on her 100th birthday in April that she didn't know why she had lived so long, but "I have never smoked and only drink the occasional sherry at Christmas and other celebrations."

Mrs Cracknell had lived at Coniston House Residential Home, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, for about 18 months – before that she was still looking after herself at her home in Levington Road, Bucklesham.

Born at Sutton, she moved to the farmhouse at Bucklesham Hall before meeting her husband, Arthur, at Woodbridge fairground.

She was 18 at the time and working as a housekeeper, while her future husband was 20 and a gamekeeper at Bucklesham.

They married three years later at Chillesford when Mr Cracknell, who died more than 20 years ago, was serving in the forces.

Mrs Cracknell outlived her five brothers and sisters. She leaves two daughters, Phyllis, 74, and Peggy, 78, three grandchildren – Jennifer, 48, Andrew, 46, and Robert, 45 – and six great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Michael, Thomas, Henry, Laura and Anna.

A funeral service will be held at Bucklesham Church on Wednesday June 18 at 12 noon.