PURTON has honoured a woman who was so dedicated to the village she was made a Member of the British Empire for her charity work.

Pauline Ward, who received the award in 2012 for her involvement in three initiatives to help elderly people, died at Ashgrove Nursing Home aged 96.

She was described as a tireless campaigner who dedicated much of her later life to local causes.

She chaired Purton Helping Hands, which supports elderly people over Christmas and throughout the year. She was secretary of both Purton Silver Threads and the Helping Hands Carnival, which raised money for local elderly people.

Pearl Lait, who worked with her at Helping Hands for more than 18 years, told the Advertiser: “She worked tirelessly for all three charities.

“She never stopped. My dad used to call her a wiley old bird because she just kept going.

“She had a push basket on wheels she would walk up from Station Road up the hill three times a day to Silver Threads. The kids in the village used to call her the lady with the pushback

“She used to make a lot of tea loaves and take them up. She would stay up until goodness knows what time at night still making cakes.

“She was the backbone of the carnival for years and years and also for Helping Hands.

“She was something to be reckoned with. I think a lot of young people of today, even ten years ago - she could run rings round them.

“Her basic thing in life was to help other people. Her main family was the three charities. Ten years ago she was still on top of everything, it was only the last few weeks where she got really poorly. Until then she was bright as a button.

“She received the MBE very quietly, she couldn’t believe she was worthy of having it. But she was a Trojan of charity work.”

Glynn Shailes remembered Pauline running her bric-a-brac shop on Purton Hill.

He said: “If something needed doing people used to look to her, her shop was a meeting place for people.

“If she had any flaws - and its a good thing - it’s that she couldn’t delegate, she would want to do everything herself.

“It really was an incredible place, there was everything there that you would need.

“She did an awful lot of good for the village. Her heart was in the village and she did lots for it, for which everyone should be grateful.”

Whe she was awarded her MBE Pauline told the Advertiser: “I don’t understand why I have got it but it’s a terrific honour. It’s something I never thought I would get in my lifetime.

“I’m no different from anybody else and I have done no more than anyone else in the village of the years.”

There will be a small service for close family and friends at Kingsdown Crematorium followed by a service to celebrate her life at St Mary’s Church in Purton at 12 midday.

Pauline is survived by her remaining son David, after her husband John died some time ago and her other son Richard died from Leukaemia.