HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to one of the first traders to move into the Tented Market after she died earlier this month.

Jean Simpson ran a confectionary stall in the iconic building from the mid-90s along with her husband Les and the pair retired from the business around nine years ago.

As one of the first stallholders to move into the iconic building, the couple built up quite the reputation in the town as well-respected traders and Jean was renowned for her warm and welcoming charm to customers.

However, her ill-health became progressively worse in recent months and it was in the week running up to her death that she was admitted to Great Western Hospital and died on July 13.

Jean’s funeral was held on Thursday at Kingsdown Crematorium.

The 71-year-old was born in Hamilton in Scotland before her father Bill was posted to Wroughton as part of his work as a policeman in the Ministry of Defence.

She enjoyed a full and happy childhood living at Red Barn Hill.

It was at a barbecue at the former Black Horse pub that she met the love of her life Les and they soon tied the knot in 1967 before moving to Royal Wootton Bassett where they lived ever since.

To help pay for the house, Jean worked in the tax office for Inland Revenue.

It was after Les was made redundant from his car mechanic job that he found a gap in the market for sweet treats at low prices - leading to the couple setting up stalls in Cirencester and Didcot before the Tented Market opened in 1994.

Sandra Simpson, Jean’s sister-in-law said: “It was love at first sight for Jean and Les.

“When they did have the market, people from Sainsburys would go over and buy things from them because they had such a reputation for themselves and they had regulars shop with them because they sold things in bulk.

“They were well-known for their stall and when I was at school I would ask my friends where they got their sweets or treats and they would say in the market so I knew it was Jean and Les.

“They wanted to be together all the time and the only time they only spent apart was when Les was in Oxford having his treatment. When he died six years ago, Jean took it really hard so we had to help one another get through.“I think she wanted to be with him and she was absolutely lost without him.”

The dedicated couple were also fond of their dogs and trips away.

Any donations in Jean’s memory should be made to Cancer Research UK.