CHARITY shop worker Vera Haines, who before and after the Second World War was employed by the Gazette, has died aged 93.

Mrs Haines, who was born Vera Harper in Devizes in 1923 and lived for many years in Market Lavington, died in Chippenham Community Hospital on October 2.

She was well known for her smiling face in Devizes and for many years in her retirement worked as a volunteer at the Oxfam shop.

Her parents were Albert and Agnes Harper who lived in Bath Road, Devizes. She leaves an older sister, Dorothy Jennings, who now lives in West Lavington Care Home, a nephew and a niece.

She married Edgar Haines in Market Lavington in 1955 and he became proprietor of the FIAT dealership in the village. They lived briefly in Potterne and then Market Lavington before Mr Haines died in 1980. The couple had no children.

After his death Mrs Haines again lived in Potterne before moving to Chantry Court, Devizes.

During her working life she was with the Wiltshire Gazette from 1937-1944 and then the Women’s Auxiliary Police from 1942-1944. She also worked at US depots at Westbury and Rowdeford, the Petroleum Board and WS Budd and Sons before returning to the Gazette in 1949.

Her longest period of work was for Wiltshire Fire Brigade from 1951-1983.

Her funeral was held on Tuesday, November 1 at St Andrew’s Church, Long Street followed by interment at Devizes Cemetery.

Donations if desired to Oxfam.