FAMILY and friends of a former Forest sweet shop owner are mourning her death at the age of 104.

Margaret Alice Gough – known as ‘Babs’ – was born before the First World War on June 25, 1912, at 31, Station Street, Cinderford.

The youngest of 10 children – five boys and five girls – she and her second husband Charlie Gough ran Gough’s Wholesale and Retail Manufacturing Confectioners in the street where she was born, which had a ready stream of customers courtesy of pupils from the old East Dean Grammar School next door.

The daughter of Oliver Frank and Emily Kibble, Mrs Gough first married Cinderford butcher Kenneth Martin on Boxing Day, 1935.

They had one child, Jennifer Jayne, but sadly her husband died in July 1941.

Mrs Gough then married Charles Gough in February 1942, and they had one child, Robinetta.

After demob from the Eighth Army, Charlie’s family business resumed and confectionery continued to be made in Station Street for 25 years.

The business included grocery and provisions, and they also traded from the old Cinderford Market on Saturdays.  

In retirement, Babs loved flying and accompanied Cumbria-based daughter Jayne Jakeman and son-in-law Patrick to Arizona to visit old friends and went whale watching in Iceland. 

She had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and was described by her family as ‘indefatigable’.

In later life, she moved to live near her daughter ‘Bobbie’ Lloyd-Jones and son-in-law Peter in Four Crosses, Llanymynech, Powys, and celebrated her 100th birthday there with guests from as far afield as the Forest, the Lake District, Devon and France.

Mrs Gough died on Thursday, March 9, and her funeral is at Arddleen Tabernacle Chapel near Welshpool this Friday, March 24, followed by interment at Llandrinio Church.