Community stalwart, devoted mother and businesswoman Constance Douglas has died aged 100.

Known as Connie, Mrs Douglas, together with her late husband Fred, took over Henry’s Menswear, in Sheep Street, Bicester, in 1953 and built it into a thriving family business.

Born in Teesside, North Yorkshire, the couple met and married in Middlesbrough and had six children, Gordon, Tony, Malcolm, Alison, Linda, who emigrated to Australia, and Valerie, who died in 1969 aged 43.

After Mr Douglas, who worked in menswear retail, was offered a job in Croydon, the family moved south.

They later moved to Rayners Lane, Middlesex, where they lived during the Second World War, before making a final move and settling in Bicester.

Mrs Douglas was also a prolific traveller and enjoyed visiting places across Europe, and also Australia.

Son Tony, who now runs the family shops in Bicester and Banbury with brother Malcolm, said: “Because there was only the two of them running the shop they couldn’t go away together.

“So dad would look after the shop while she went around Europe and he would go to Butlins.”

However, the couple were both at Tenerife airport when two jumbo jets crashed on a runway in March 1977 killing 583 people. Tony said: “Their’s was the next plane but one. They were rushed to a hotel then taken to another island to get a plane home.

“You would have thought it would put her off flying, but it didn’t.”

Mrs Douglas was a member of the Rotary Club’s Inner Wheel for more than 20 years, was involved with the local meals on wheels service, and was president of Bicester Ladies Bowls Club, and the Oxford Ladies Bowls Association. She also had a keen interest in poetry and was known to quote verses from obscure poems at a local poetry club.

Mrs Douglas, a twin, celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Day, and sadly died on January 4.

Tony said: “She was a very level headed person and was devoted to her family. She used to love being in the shop when father was on holiday and prove she could beat him.”

Mr Douglas died in 2000 aged 92. She also leaves six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. A service of thanksgiving in memory of Mrs Douglas will take place at St Edburg’s Church, Church Street, Bicester, on Tuesday at 10.30am.