Dedicated  fundraiser Pamela Bellman has retired from the Cancer Research UK Stonehenge and Pewsey Vale Support Group after more than 30 years with the charity.

Mrs Bellman, 93, of Andover Road in Upavon, has been the group’s president since 1991 and has handed in her resignation because of ill health.

She joined the group in 1980 when she moved to the area with her late husband John who was in the army.

In 1985 she became chairman of the group and was an active fundraiser, even offering up her garden last summer as the venue for a charity tea party.

To honour her devotion to the charity she was presented with a long service brooch and a certificate which was given to her last week by the group’s chairman, Nesta Waine, and area volunteer manager, Maria Gomez.

Mrs Waine, said: “The certificate was organised by head office and she was absolutely thrilled to bits to have that recognition and it was lovely to see her so happy.”

The committee also bought Mrs Bellman a bunch of flowers and there was a collection so that a cheque for £100 can be donated to Cancer research in her name.

Mrs Waine said: “Pam was not simply a brilliant chairman and organiser, she was also a worker and would always be there helping at events. 

“We’ve often relied on Pam for advice in the past and I’m sure that this will continue.

“She was a fantastic president; we could always go to her if we need help and she would offer support and advice but she would never interfere which is exactly what you want from a president.

“I remember when I joined the committee she would be sat at all the meetings next to the chairman and she would always have an input but it was always welcome.

“Sometimes on committees you can have someone who just hangs around and won’t leave but it wasn’t like that at all, she has always been a stalwart.”