Obituary: Gill Thompson

Gill Thompson, 80, of Royal Wootton Bassett, was a lifelong resident of the town, to which she contributed greatly through her key involvement in arthritis research fund-raising events and local drama. She was a founder and long-serving secretary of the arthritis charity committee set up by the late Jack Winter, more than 40 years ago.

As an active member of the Clarendon Players and its predecessors, Gill played many roles, as well as assisting offstage. She performed in a wide range of plays, including The Ghosts of Bedlam, at Swindon One Act Play Festival in 2008.

Gill, whose lifelong home was the house where her parents had settled, was a pupil at the original Church of England school in Station Road and Headlands Grammar School, Swindon, to which she travelled daily by train from Wootton Bassett's former station.

Subsequently she studied at a teacher training college in Chichester, qualified as a primary school teacher, and began her career at Penhill, Swindon, before spending many years on the staff of Broad Town Primary School. Progressive arthritis, which she tackled with characteristic stoicism, did not quench her enthusiasm. She continued to teach while recovering from hip replacement operations, and cheerfully personalised her walking stick!

Gill was actively involved in Wootton Bassett's parish church, St Bartholomew's & All Saints, and attended the early Sunday morning service for as long as her health permitted. In more recent times she appreciated receiving Communion at home.

Her well-attended funeral service in church on February 11 featured tributes to Gill's courage, humour, faith and friendship. Prayers of thanksgiving for her inspirational example were led by the vicar, the Rev Canon Jane Curtis.

Despite poor health, limited mobility and failing eyesight, Gill maintained as much independence as possible and was an inspiration to many friends and acquaintances. The thanksgiving service, which featured the church choir, and included two hymns about peace, was followed by refreshments at the Angel Hotel, where more reminiscences were shared.

Memorial donations, for the charity Versus Arthritis, may be sent c/o Johnson & Daltrey, 112 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.