GILIAN (Gil) was born in Exmouth in 1938. She trained as a teacher of Fine Art at Bath Academy of Art and taught in schools for a number of years before starting a toy making business in Market Lavington with her first husband, John Honeychurch, in 1967.

Gil met Robin Brookes soon after John died and together they formed Honeychurch Toys Ltd in 1981. They made a variety of toys, later specialising in designing and making doll’s houses for children, before the adult collector boom took them by surprise. The company at one time employed eight craftsmen and apprentices and an administrative assistant who often helped in the workshop.

Gil and Robin began attending Quaker meetings in Devizes in the 1990s and, having found themselves at home there, became members of the society. In 1994, Gil and Robin married in the Quaker Meeting House. Shortly afterwards they opened their shop Honeychurch Toy Gallery in Devizes, which was run by Gil.

Gil was a keen activist for peace and social justice. She was among the first of Traidcraft’s reps, selling Fair Trade goods from home and at special events. The Traidcraft stall at the Quaker Meeting House is her continuing legacy.

For a number of years Gil worked in the evenings as a Cruse bereavement councillor, helping widows and widowers in coming to terms with their loss.

In 2005 Gil was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Having always had a positive and joyful outlook on life, she bore her illness with something more than stoicism and managed to survive this incurable disease for the next ten years. She died peacefully at home on September 28.

She leaves behind her husband Robin, sons Martin and Steven, stepdaughter Clare, stepson Oliver and three grandchildren.

A memorial meeting will take place at Devizes Quaker Meeting House on Sunday, November 1. It will be conducted in the Quaker tradition and is open to everyone who knew her.