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Eunice Bowman, who was born in 1898 and has lived in Newcastle for most of her life, has seen six monarchs on the throne and witnessed 22 Prime Ministers in power.
She has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the oldest person in the UK after the death two weeks ago of Florrie Baldwin, aged 114.
Mrs Bowman, who lives in a care home in Gateshead, said: "I think they will have to shoot me if they want to get rid of me.
"The tipple of honey is what keeps me going really. I've had a simple life but Ive had some great memories along the way."
Mrs Bowman has six children, 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and at least 30 nephews and nieces.
Her grandson John Berry, 45, of Felling, Gateshead, said: Shes very easy going, good-natured and always has a smile on her face.
"It is just amazing that she has reached this age and now she is the oldest in the UK. She will be 112 in August so we are really looking forward to that birthday."
She was born in Lancashire, the second of 12 children to Thomas and Sarah Cook, but her family moved to find work in the North East in 1905 as the cotton trade began to decline.
They eventually moved to a house behind Chapel Street, Felling, Gateshead, for which they paid £100.
On Christmas Day in 1919, Eunice married Robert Pearson at Christ Church, Felling, and they moved to Nursery Lane, in Windy Nook.
The couple had four children, Norman, Thomas, Doris and Constance, but husband Robert died, aged only 28, from TB.
During the First World War Eunice worked in a munitions factory.
And when World War Two began, her two sons, Norman, 19, and Thomas, 17, joined the Army and fought in Africa. Both returned safely to work in the shipyards.
On December 13, 1941, Eunice married next-door neighbour Frank Bowman. They had two children: Sheila, who died in infancy in 1943, and Anne, who was born in 1945.
Her second husband died in 1950 and she never remarried.
She worked in Ron's fish and chip shop in Windy Nook, well into her 80s and lived on her own until January of last year when she moved into the care home.
Her daughter Anne Berry, 64, of Windy Nook, said: Its marvellous that she has reached this age. She just lived a normal life, she didnt go very far and she just liked to potter around the garden.
"It would be great to think I will live as long as her. She's just a marvellous woman and she's great for her age."
Mrs Bowman is due to celebrate her 112th birthday on 23 August.
Eugenie Blanchard of France who was born in 1896, is the world's oldest person, aged 114.
"The tipple of honey is what keeps me going really. I've had a simple life but Ive had some great memories along the way."
Mrs Bowman has six children, 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and at least 30 nephews and nieces.
Her grandson John Berry, 45, of Felling, Gateshead, said: Shes very easy going, good-natured and always has a smile on her face.
"It is just amazing that she has reached this age and now she is the oldest in the UK. She will be 112 in August so we are really looking forward to that birthday."
She was born in Lancashire, the second of 12 children to Thomas and Sarah Cook, but her family moved to find work in the North East in 1905 as the cotton trade began to decline.
They eventually moved to a house behind Chapel Street, Felling, Gateshead, for which they paid £100.
On Christmas Day in 1919, Eunice married Robert Pearson at Christ Church, Felling, and they moved to Nursery Lane, in Windy Nook.
The couple had four children, Norman, Thomas, Doris and Constance, but husband Robert died, aged only 28, from TB.
During the First World War Eunice worked in a munitions factory.
And when World War Two began, her two sons, Norman, 19, and Thomas, 17, joined the Army and fought in Africa. Both returned safely to work in the shipyards.
On December 13, 1941, Eunice married next-door neighbour Frank Bowman. They had two children: Sheila, who died in infancy in 1943, and Anne, who was born in 1945.
Her second husband died in 1950 and she never remarried.
She worked in Ron's fish and chip shop in Windy Nook, well into her 80s and lived on her own until January of last year when she moved into the care home.
Her daughter Anne Berry, 64, of Windy Nook, said: Its marvellous that she has reached this age. She just lived a normal life, she didnt go very far and she just liked to potter around the garden.
"It would be great to think I will live as long as her. She's just a marvellous woman and she's great for her age."
Mrs Bowman is due to celebrate her 112th birthday on 23 August.
Eugenie Blanchard of France who was born in 1896, is the world's oldest person, aged 114.