Former mayor of Devizes, Ludmilla Barnett, died on April 10, aged 89.

As well as being mayor of the town she and her husband, Bill, were also well known for the antiques shop they ran in Long Street.

Mrs Barnett was born in Vienna, Austria, and came to Britain in 1948. She married Bill Barnett and they ran a very popular tea shop in the home counties before they became antique dealers.

They had a succession of shops in Bath, Hungerford and latterly Devizes where they settled in 1973. They lived above the antiques shop.

They were both smartly dressed, Mrs Barnett always wore big hats and gloves even when going to an auction.

Mrs Barnett was an excellent needleworker and her speciality was upholstering the furniture her husband would buy for the shop.

Mr Barnett died in 1980 and Mrs Barnett was a Devizes town councillor from 1979 to 1994. She was deputy mayor in 1984 but had to hand over to Coun Gudrun Collis after six months due to ill health.

She was mayor in 1991/2, the year of the 850th year celebrations of Devizes.

She took a great interest in Devizes and was a very diligent councillor.

Among her achievements while on the council was selecting the curtain material for the refurbished Corn Exchange.

She had a wonderful sense of humour, was a wonderful cook and loved her garden.

She moved into Miranda House care home in Royal Wootton Bassett in January following a short stay in hospital.

Her funeral service is today (Thursday) at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, at 4pm.

Donations in her memory will go to Age UK Wiltshire c/o Charles S Winchcombe & Son funeral directors, Devizes.