Bella Richman, one of Britain’s oldest women, has died, aged 107.
Born in Spitalfields in London’s East End, Mrs Richmon — who preferred being addressed by her nickname of Billie — spent her early working years at Universal Studios in Soho, where she met Charlie Chaplin and other stars of the day.
She married David, a lingerie factory owner, in 1934, and moved to live with family in Blackpool in 1940 after the factory was bombed. Her husband followed after completing his military service.
She went on to open Boutique Helene in Preston, which became a well-known store in the area. She worked until she was 85, living in St Anne’s. Her final years were spent in a care home.
