TODAY aeroplanes are a familiar sight and children learn about Queen Victoria in history lessons. But when Violet Morton was born 108 years ago the world was very different.

Now very frail, Mrs Morton is the oldest resident in Medhurst residential home, Cross Keys. She celebrated her birthday on September 5 with a tea party, surrounded by family and friends.

She is one of Britain's oldest women.

Mrs Morton was born in Barry in 1897 and went to Barry Girls' Grammar School. She lived in Risca from the age of 15, when her mother died.

One of eight children, she then looked after her father and seven younger brothers and sisters, becoming the mainstay of the family.

She married Richard Morton in 1929, but was widowed ten years later. She had no children.

In her long life she has seen the world change beyond recognition. She was three when Queen Victoria died in 1901, and five when the Wright brothers made the first flights in 1903.

In 1912 she learned of the sinking of the Titanic. Ten days after her 31st birthday, in 1928, Alexander Fleming announced his discovery of penicillin.

Mrs Morton witnessed two world wars and saw Elvis Presley shoot to stardom. In the Sixties she lived through the space race and the assassination of John F Kennedy.

* The oldest living woman in the UK is Lucy Victoria d'Abreu (b. 24 May 1892) of Stirling, Scotland, who celebrated her 113th birthday this year.

She became the oldest living woman in Scotland on October 30, 2002, at the age of 110 years 159 days, and took the UK title on the death of Gladys Hawley on April 28, 2004, at the age of 111 years 339 days.

The oldest woman in England is Judy Ingamells (ne Gude, b. January 12, 1894), of Enfield, Middlesex, who is 111.