TRIBUTES have been paid to a community stalwart who has died at the age of 88.

Betty Shuker, who lived in Castlemorton, came to Worcestershire during the Second World War when her family moved from Kent to avoid the German bombing.

She met Don Shuker, newly de-mobbed out of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, and they married in 1951.

They lived firstly with Don’s parents in Worcester, then at Rushwick, moving eventually to Malvern where Don worked as a civil engineer for the Severn River Board.

They had three children, Sally, John and Simon, and greatly enjoyed family times with them and their grand- and great-grandchildren.

Mrs Shuker will be remembered as a strong supporter of many local charities and for her voluntary work throughout her many years with Malvern Inner Wheel, where she served as both chair and president.

She was a talented and enthusiastic singer, and spent many years in local amateur opera, with Malvern Hills Opera Company in their productions at the Malvern Festival Theatre, and at Cheltenham opera groups.

Betty and Don regularly attended the Church of St Gregory in Castlemorton.

She was well known there for not only producing many years of beautiful flower arrangements for the church’s regular and seasonal services, but also decking out the church with floral arrangement for many of the weddings there.

Mrs Shuker's funeral will be at St Gregory’s, on Thursday, February 21, at 2.30 pm. All are welcome to attend the service.