Moira Ponting, 91, of Royal Wootton Bassett, died only three months after the death of her husband Cyril, who for many years farmed at Ballards Ash, in partnership with his late brother Frank, at Folly Farm. In retirement, Mr and Mrs Ponting moved into the town, where she appreciated the company of family members living nearby.

Mrs Ponting was devoted to her family and was a familiar figure, out and about with her daughter, Jill Corry. Mrs Ponting, originally from Swansea, was a keen countrywoman, and having begun her working life as an apprentice in a small firm of soft furnishers, working with lovely fabrics, she changed career after wartime bombing destroyed the shop.

Her boss, a farmer’s son, then bought a farm in Rutland and offered Moira a chance to go with them to work. After a year, having enjoyed the outdoor life, she decided to join the Women’s Land Army.

She was employed by the War Agricultural Committee and was sent to Wiltshire, initially to Potterne Wick, where she lived in a hostel.

She was soon sent to Great Bedwyn, as gang leader of eight girls who went with her on the strength of her year’s work in farming. They were billeted around the village and were issued with bicycles to reach the farms to which they were allocated.

Her original boss had paid for Mrs Ponting to have driving lessons in Swansea, and her labour officer in Trowbridge arrived in a lorry, handed her the key and instructed her to drive the lorry to pick up Land Girls for work further afield. She drove first to Hungerford, and got on so well that she soon discovered a love for driving.

On Saturday evenings the girls would walk to dances, where they met servicemen from New Zealand and America.

Her next posting was to Westbury, where she parked the lorry in the garage yard next to the house where she was billeted. Her next assignment was to transport a squad of a dozen Italian prisoners of war to work on a farm ten miles away, after she had transported the Land Girls to their duties.

The PoWs were escorted by a British guard from the Pioneer Corps.

A highlight, which Mrs Ponting enjoyed recalling, was the occasion when she was in a group of Land Girls harvesting potatoes, in a field opposite an American camp where they were invited for a midday meal. The fare was sumptuous, with steak, gammon, pineapple and vegetables – a great change from the meagre beetroot sandwich that was their usual lunch.

Mrs Ponting had a permanent scar from a leg injury caused by farm machinery at work, when she jumped back to avoid a restless horse. She wrote amusingly of her years as a Land Girl and was very proud of her uniform. She was moved around to various parts of Wiltshire and was a foreman driver in Salisbury towards the end of the war.

It was during her wartime service that she met Cyril Ponting, who was in charge of organising male farm workers.

They were married in April 1946 and had three children, Stuart, Jill and the late Graham.

Mrs Ponting lived for her family and was a happy, contented person, noted for her bright, cheerful nature.

She was sustained by her strong Christian faith, and was greatly loved by her family, including her eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She had many interests, including word games, reading, embroidery, tapestry and cooking, and had a lovely singing voice. She is fondly remembered by many people, and is sorely missed.

After the service at Kingsdown Crematorium, where the Rev David Perkins officiated, everyone was invited to The Crown Inn at Stratton St Margaret for refreshments and further reminiscences.

Memorial donations for Prospect Hospice may be sent c/o Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.