A FORMER RAF factory worker who was the last of 13 siblings has died, aged 91.

Elsie Ince, of Springfield Mews in Oswaldtwistle, died on Monday.

Before Elsie, nee Waddington, the family had lost Margaret, Elizabeth, Bell, Mary, Bessie, Edith, Eveline, Doris, Jack, Arthur and Jim, as well as another sibling who died as a youngster.

Son Michael, 61, of Reo Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, said his mother had remained in contact with all her brothers and sisters.

He said: “They all got on very well but a few moved away.

“She went looking after some of them when they were coming to the ends of their lives.

“Mum always said there were 13 siblings, but I only knew of 12.

“I think one might have died very young, or even at birth.”

Mr Ince said Elsie was an Oswaldtwistle girl through and through.

He said: “She was born ‘above the lamp’, as they used to say. A true ‘Gobbiner’.

“And she lived in Oswaldtwistle all her life, spending many years at Back Rhoden Road.

“She moved into Springfield Mews 19 years ago.”

Elsie worked for the RAF at the munitions factory in Blackburn before going into weaving.

She married Jack at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oswaldtwistle in March, 1948. He died in December 1985.

Mr Ince said his mother enjoyed holidaying with her husband, watching quiz shows and live football on TV.

She supported Blackburn Rovers, although she didn’t go to games.

Mr Ince said: “She was very independent.

“She never had any care, she always looked after herself. And she was easygoing.

“She was the first person to go into the home after it opened and everybody loved her.”

Springfield Mews manager Karen Kavanagh said: “Elsie was wonderful. A real character who will be really missed.

“Everyone here is really upset. She had a lot of friends.”

As well as Michael, Elsie left behind her daughter-in-law Edna, grandchildren Lorraine and Iain, Mark and Lesley and Gary and Nicola, and nine great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Monday, at 11.40am. Family flowers only.