Trowbridge grandmother and keen gardener Barbara Joan Watts died peacefully on January 16 at the Royal United Hospital in Bath at the age of 88.

Born on March 10, 1926, in Bristol, Mrs Watts worked in an ammunitions factory during the war and shortly after met her husband Ivan John Watts, who had moved to the West Country from Liverpool.

They bought a cottage on the edge of Syston Commons near Warmley and lived there with their two children, Bruce and Michael, for over 20 years.

In 1971 the family moved to Clarendon Avenue, Trowbridge, before in 1982 moving to Banbury, where her husband of almost 40 years worked for Mannes-mann DEMAG until his death in 1987. She moved to smaller home and lived a spry and active life well into her 80s, walking to the market every day.

In 2010, she moved back to Trowbridge to be closer to family and friends and become a part of a warm and supportive community in Regal Court.

She took pleasure in feeding birds in her backyard, enjoyed the outdoors and was a fanatical gardener, as well as an avid reader.

Although her sons and grandchildren lived in America and South Africa she was a dutiful grandmother, never missing a birthday.

She leaves her brother Philip, sons Bruce and Michael and four grandchildren.

Her funeral is still being arranged.