TRIBUTES have been paid to a Rock parish councillor for 16 years and a stalwart of Far Forest WI for 50.

Sheila Ward may have been born in Tenbury Wells and brought up in Stourbridge, and she may also have been a Welsh speaker, but it is the Wyre Forest that she is fondly remembered after spending 55 years in Rock.

Stephen Clee, the former leader of Wyre Forest Conservatives, said: “She was a massive friend and ally for the parishioners in and around Rock Parish.”

“She was a staunch Conservative supporter and co-founder of the Bewdley Conservative Ladies Luncheon Club that used to meet at the Heath.”

Sheila served as a Rock parish councillor from 1988 until 2004, and was chairman from 2001 to 2002.

Born in Tenbury, her family moved to Stourbridge for her policeman father's work.

It was at Stourbridge Girls Grammar School that she met her future husband of 62 years Albert. The couple have five children, 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

She first encountered Albert in 1955 as pen pals, when Sheila wrote a letter to Albert during his time in the Army.

Albert served in the first Royal Dragoons and three of their sons, as well as two of their grandsons, have or are currently still serving in the Blues and Royals.

Sheila and Albert moved to Rock on their marriage in 1959, having previously courted for five years. Sheila raised their family and later tended a small holding around their farm on the Greenway.

She spoke Welsh, had a deep interest in Welsh history, and had been involved with a number of societies such as the Welsh Battlefield Society and the Princess Gwenllian Society.

She was also involved in a project to restore the historic St Mary's Church in Pilleth.

Sheila, of Organs Hill Farm, died on Wednesday, January 13, aged 81.

Mr Clee said: “She loved helping the local Rock branch raise funds to support various MPs over the years for their election campaign.

"Her favourite MP was of course Anthony Coombs who always impressed her.

"She had a massive encyclopaedia of local knowledge which I tapped into on many occasions.

"We are all going to miss her massively.”