Mildred Valentine Watts, who was known as Molly, has passed away at home in West End, aged 101.

Born in London on Valentine's Day 1920, she grew up in Fair Oak where her parents ran the Fox & Hounds pub.

She left school at Barton Peveril at the age of 15 and went into service, later working for Saunders-Roe at Eastleigh Airport as well as British American Tobacco.

Molly spent 18 months in South Africa from early 1949, which made a huge impression on her, and made lifelong friends there.

She returned home in late 1950 and enjoyed lots of nights out dancing at Southampton Guildhall. It was there that she was reunited with Cyril, who she had known previously and who would become her husband.

The couple, who were married for 33 years until Cyril's death in 1986, had two daughters, Janice and Sandra, and four grandchildren.

Molly, who was a housewife while her children were young, retired from her job as a cleaner at Merryoak Boys School in 1980.

She maintained her love of dancing right until the end, attending regular tea dances and particularly enjoying the dance club laid on by Age Concern Eastleigh.

Molly was also a keen gardener and put her long life down to eating vegetables as well as the odd custard cream biscuit.

Her family like to think she is now dancing with the angels.