Bromham resident Maureen Bowyer, a much loved mum and gran, died aged 81 on October 9.

She was born in Broughton Gifford but her family moved to Bromham when she was a girl and she attended the village school followed by Calne Secondary Modern School.

She left school at 14 and worked for the Wiltshire Gazette at its office in Devizes, where she earned £1 a week.

She met her future husband, John, in the Regal Cinema in Devizes when she was 16 and two years later, on Boxing Day in 1950, they married at St Nicholas’ Church, Bromham.

By then Mrs Bowyer was working as a glove maker in a factory in Sheep Street, Devizes. The couple initially lived at Bratton but moved to Mintys Top, Bromham, in 1955.

Mrs Bowyer gave up work to look after their family. She and her husband had three children, Pauline, Michael and the late Stephen.

She also fostered dozens of children over a period of about 20 years.

Mrs Bowyer also had 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her family always came first and she would do anybody a favour.

She loved to knit and crochet, loved her garden and her pets, two dogs and an African grey parrot.

Her funeral service has been held: donations in her memory can be given to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.