by Sian Napier

snapier@thekmgroup.co.uk

A woman from Whitstable who made 36 transatlantic flights after getting her first passport at the age of 90 has died just days short of her 106th birthday.

Maria Robinson, who lived in Tankerton with her daughter Eileen and son-in-law Jim Ingram, was born in Whitstable and spent 60 years in the same house in King Edward Street.

There she brought up her family of six sons and one daughter after marrying in 1924 at the age of 19. Her sons were born between 1925-35, with her daughter following in 1945. Just 18 months later her husband died.

Mrs Robinson then worked at various cleaning jobs and in 1963 married Frank Robinson, who died in 1990.

Soon afterwards Mrs Robinson went to live with her daughter and Mr Ingram, who ran the confectionary shop at Tankerton Circus until he retired. She died peacefully at their home.

Although Mrs Robinson did not get a passport until she was 90 she soon made up for lost time. Her first trip abroad was through the Channel Tunnel to France, Andorra and Spain, followed in the year 2000 when she was 95 by her first flight to Florida where her daughter and son-in-law have a holiday home.

She made 36 transatlantic flights until her final one three years ago and also made eight other flights in the US, enjoyed two cruises to Alaska and Vancouver and the Caribbean and visited Jamaica and Antigua, where she celebrated her 102nd birthday.

In the year she turned 100 her daughter was 60 and her son-in-law 70 and the three of them went on a celebratory trip on the Orient Express.

Her granddaughter Debbie Corris said: "She never, ever complained about anything and was always smiling. She was happy to go along with anything and was so lovely. She will be sadly missed by so many people.

"We'd like to thank everyone for their floral tributes and donations."

Sadly Mrs Robinson's six sons have all died but she leaves her daughter, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Her funeral took place at St Alphege Church in Whitstable High Street, followed by burial at Whitstable cemetery in Millstrood Road.