MARY DAVIS, who was born and bred in Wiltshire and a much-loved member of the Devizes community, sadly passed away on March 30.

At the outbreak of World War Two, Mary’s parents Albert “Bob” and Hilda Shore moved the family from London, and in 1939 Mary was born in Devizes.

She had an idyllic childhood living and growing up in West Lavington with her older sister Joan and younger brother Robert.

Mary forged lifelong friendships at the village school and Devizes Grammar School, and was a keen sportswoman who represented Wiltshire in both tennis and hurdles.

After leaving school Mary took a secretarial course and worked as a medical secretary at Roundway Hospital at the age of 17.

In 1961, Mary married Malcolm Davis and had three children: Becky, Alan and Jake. They lived briefly in Devizes before Malcolm built their own home in West Lavington where they lived for 16 years. When the older children left home they returned to Devizes.

Mary took a 15-year break from working in 1962 to raise the family but returned to Roundway Hospital in 1976 as a personal secretary and, from 1992 to 1995, as a personnel assistant.

She continued as the team secretary at the Green Lane Hospital, from it’s opening in 1995 until she retired in 2010, working in total for 39 years for the NHS in Devizes.

Her passion for caring for others in a vulnerable position continued when she took on a full and active role in Victim Support and then volunteering at the Devizes Alzheimer’s Support group where she continued to play a key role up until her sudden passing on March 30th 2018.

Mary and Malcolm enjoyed the company of a huge group of close and loyal friends and she loved nothing more than hosting and contributing to parties, and enjoying a glass of Prosecco or two

She was a devoted wife to Malcolm, loving Mum to Becky, Alan and Jake and the most loving and active Grandma to all her 9 grandchildren ranging in ages from 32 to 11 who loved her dearly and were all very close to her.

After a cremation service for family and close friends, there will be a church service to celebrate Mary’s life at St Johns Devizes from 11.15am on Monday, April 16.