RODBOURNE villagers are arranging for a gravestone to commemorate the life of popular churchwarden Cynthia Atherton-Brown.

Miss Brown, who lived at Trinity Farm, died aged 72 in February 1998.

She had been a churchwarden at Holy Rood Church for more than 25 years.

She had also been a member of the Holy Rood Parochial Church Council for 30 years.

When she died she left no known relatives.

Her burial place in Rodbourne churchyard was marked only by a plaque.

It was placed by the undertakers after the funeral but only gave her name.

However, friends and colleagues of Miss Atherton-Brown have commissioned sculptor Verity Lambert from Startley, who was a neighbour of Miss Atherton Brown in Rodbourne, to create a lasting memorial stone for the grave.

Brenda Oliver, treasurer of the Parochial Church Council, moved to Rodbourne 19 years ago and got to know Miss Atherton-Brown.

She said: "We think it is a shame that the grave is unmarked.

"At the moment there is a plaque but that won't last forever.

"Rodbourne is a very small village and if there was anything going on she was involved in it.

"She was very friendly, polite and a typical country lady.

"She was also a staunch Conservative and I'm sure she would be watching the Tory leadership contest with interest from heaven.'

Miss Oliver said that Miss Atherton-Brown had been very well liked in the village.

She was formerly a very keen huntswoman.

She used to ride with the Beaufort Hunt.