MRS Zetta Manns (nee Bowers) died on November 8, aged 87, at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Mrs Manns lived in Blount’s Court, Potterne, Devizes, and was born in Bristol on April 12 1928, one of two children with a sister, Pat Bowers. After the Second World War broke out, she was evacuated by her parents to Barnsley in 1941 after Bristol was bombed. Returning six months later on March 15 1942, Mrs Manns started a domestic science course in Bristol, aged 14. She went on to become a caterer and then worked at Bristol Gas Company, becoming a demonstrator who would cook in front of crowds even though she was a shy person. This is where she met her husband Kenneth Robert Manns, an ex- air crew member from the War who went on to become part of the RAF. The two married in 1950 in Bristol, where Mrs Manns became a housewife and gave birth to two children, Nick Manns in March 1951 and David Manns in March 1959. Although Mrs Manns did not have an occupation she was more than a housewife, as her children kept moving schools continuously due to Mr Manns’ job, as she provided a sense of stability for her children in an ever changing world and teaching them how to read.

In 1952 Mr and Mrs Manns, along with Nick, moved to Singapore for two years during the peak of the Malay Emergency, when Malaysia tried to kick the British out and get rid of the Empire’s grip on Malaysia. The family then spent two years in Aden, Yemen, leaving when the colonial movement began in 1963. She and her family then settled in Potterne, Devizes in 1964 where Mr Manns went to RAF Upavon and then retired in 1969. The pair then opened and ran the Bon Ton Café for a number of years, staying in Devizes.

Nick Manns said that Mr and Mrs Manns were happy together and they celebrated their golden anniversary before his father died in 2008.

Mrs Manns spent the last 20 years in a wheelchair due to a motor neuron disease, meaning she spent a large amount of time at the RUH Bath. Her son Nick said that during her time at RUH Bath, the staff treated her and the family like royalty and thanks everyone who helped her during her visits.

Nick Manns, her son, said: “She created stability for me and my brother and we are eternally grateful. She encouraged us to read when our schooling was interrupted, we both owe her a debt of gratitude for creating a stable platform that many would take for granted.

“She unfortunately didn’t have good health but she coped with it with extraordinary courage.”

Mrs Manns’ funeral will take place on November 27 at 1.45pm at Semington Crematorium, those who attend are asked not to bring flowers but to make donations to the Friend Forever Appeal of the RUH, to thank them for all of their help during Mrs Manns’ care.