THE family of Bradford’s oldest woman, who lived to the grand age of 107, have bid their final farewell with a moving ceremony.

Kartari Kaur, of Girlington, Bradford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 28, last year, her family said.

Mrs Kaur was transported by a horse drawn carriage from the family home, where she had seen four generations grow up, to Scholemoor Cemetery.

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Relatives could be seen carrying floral tributes into the carriage, led by two white horses adorned with orange feathers.

Her son Paul Chand paid tribute to her extraordinary life.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “She had lived a long and happy life for 107 years with our four generations.

“The whole family is very proud and grateful for the blessings, moral values and togetherness she has given all of us.”

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The pensioner was also celebrated for her 90-year-long marriage to Mr Karam Chand - it was believed to have been the UK’s longest marriage with a combined age of 213 years.

The married couple were guests-of-honour at many community events and were invited to open The Broadway shopping centre, alongside star Alexandra Burke, in 2015.

They even had the honour of attending Her Majesty’s tea party held at Buckingham Palace in May 2013, where they met the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

At the time, son Paul said: “This was a moment of huge significance for them, as they had always regarded the Royal Family highly and looked upon her as a figure of great respect. They took immense pride in having met her.”

Mr Chand was born to a farming family, in a small rural village in the Punjab in northern India in 1905 while Mrs Kaur was born in the same district in 1912.

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The pair, who tied the knot in India in 1925 during the British Raj, moved to England 40 years later.

After settling in Bradford, Mr Chand worked in the mills.

Together they raised eight children - four sons and four daughters.

Mrs Kaur and her husband featured annually in the T&A on birthdays, often pictured with a cake in front of her friends and family.

Paul said his mother “always loved a family get-together” and would sing and dance along with everyone.

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On her last birthday in November, family and friends from the UK and India, community leaders, the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and the Bishop of Bradford marked the significant event.

At the time, Paul said: “This was a moment of pride for the city of Bradford and the county of West Yorkshire, as well as a celebration that our family, and my mum, will cherish forever.”

With her husband by her side, Mrs Kaur led a full life, becoming well-known figures in the district.

Back in 2013, the oldest married couple led the way at the head of Girlington Parade in an open-top car.

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As VIPs for the day, the procession wound its way through the community’s heart from West Park to Durham Road.

According to their family, the couple were extremely hard-working.

Back in 2012, Mrs Chand told then T&A reporter, Sally Clifford, that “hard work, honesty and prayer” is the secret to their long and happy marriage.

The dedicated couple found international fame, having been the focus of news articles and documentaries worldwide.

The family often told how eating a diet free from junk and based on pure ingredients, as it was in the days when they were growing up in rural India, is another reason for the couple’s longevity.

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After his retirement, Mr Chand enjoyed spending time with his large family and the occasional tipple at his son’s pub, The Castle Hotel in Grattan Road, Bradford.

Mr Chand loved watching cricket, touring the Yorkshire Dales as well as visiting relatives in India.

Mr Chand sadly died in 2016 at the age of 110.

Mrs Kaur continued to live with her son, Paul, and his family.

This is something that daughter, Kaushalya Devi, felt contributed to their long, healthy lives.

Speaking in 2012, Mrs Devi said: “Living with family is a big help and support.

“The company of family helps them to pass time and stay alert instead of them being alone in the house. Children should make the most of their parents and care for them while they are still here. It is no good putting them in a nursing home and being sorry once they are gone.”

Looking back, she added: “I think they have had a happy time together. Simple co-operation, patience and just getting along has been the key to it all.”

And, while an era sadly comes to an end, the Chands have left a legacy of love in Bradford forever.

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