TRIBUTES have been paid to 83-year-old Jean Newman, who died less than a month after she celebrated her diamond wedding anniversary.

Mrs Newman died at the RUH on Saturday after being taken ill last month.

Mrs Newman met her husband Alan, 88, a former vicar at Christ Church in Bradford on Avon, when they were children as they were neighbours in Newbridge Road, Bath.

The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage at Cumberwell Golf Club, Bradford on Avon on July 9.

Mrs Newman's father, Herbert Weight, was a professional musician, playing the clarinet in the Bath Pump Room Orchestra and teaching a variety of instruments to schoolchildren; his wife Millicent was a piano teacher.

Mr Weight was the organist and choirmaster at St John's, Lower Weston, Bath, for 46 years, and it was not long before his daughter became a member of the ladies' choir.

Mr Newman became a member of the then traditionally all-male choir, and he trained for the priesthood during the Second World War.

Mrs Newman worked for the Admiralty, and the couple married in 1946 at St John's, by which time Mr Newman was priest in charge at Twerton Parish Church.

In 1952 they moved to Clandown, Somerset, where Mr Newman had his first parish, and in 1956 to Bradford on Avon, where Alan spent 20 years as vicar of Christ Church.

Mrs Newman, as the unpaid vicar's wife, started a wives' group, and helped with nativity and passion plays.

She was also active within the Mothers' Union, being a member for over 50 years.

Mr Newman's last parish was at Monkton Farleigh with South Wraxall, before retiring to Winsley in 1984.

Mrs Newman was an active member of the Granny's Swimming Club in Bradford on Avon, while her husband pursued his life-long interest in railways.

In November 2005, Mrs Newman moved to Anzac House, Devizes.

She is survived by her husband, now a resident at The Old Vicarage, Staverton, her four sons, Bernard, Philip, Francis, and Vincent. She also leaves two granddaughters, Rebecca and Beatrice.