Violet Wiltshire

Violet Edith Wiltshire, a well-known resident of Bushton, was commemorated by family and friends at Kingsdown Crematorium on July 18.

The life of Mrs Wiltshire, who died shortly before her 100th birthday, was celebrated by the release of a dozen white-tailed doves, soaring skyward after the service, to which everyone was asked to wear bright colours.

The Rev Rachma Abbott recalled Violet's long life, her great love of gardening and her enthusiastic involvement in local produce shows at Brinkworth, Broad Town and Clyffe Pypard, where she entered every possible class and won many trophies.

The family of Violet (nee Brown) moved from Leigh to Park Grounds Farm, Wootton Bassett, in her youth. Violet had three brothers and a sister.

After leaving school at 14, she and her sister Lucy both went into service in the London area - at Romford and Sunbury-on-Thames. Violet remembered doing fire-watch duties, early in the Second World War, before she moved back to Wiltshire, for a childcare job in Chippenham.

There she met Jack Wiltshire, a young man from Wootton Bassett, and so began their courtship. The couple used to stroll around Chippenham, and Violet had vivid memories of an evening when they found they had been locked inside the park, and had to clamber out over high gates.

Violet subsequently worked at the dairy factory in Wootton Bassett, a major local employer in those times.

She and Jack were married at Wootton Bassett Parish Church (then generally known as All Saints) in November 1942. They lived at Tinkers Field, and had a son, David and daughter, Marian.

Jack became farm manager for Mr H Hibberd, and the family moved in 1959 to Nebo Farm, Clyffe Pypard, where Violet helped to tend pigs, chickens and beef cattle.

David and Sue have a daughter and son, Jennifer and James. Marian and Les Kent produced two sons, Stuart and Jonathan. Violet delighted in the company of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren Jack and Harvey.

Memorial donations, for Brighter Futures and Wiltshire Air Ambulance, totalled over £400.