A HUSBAND has paid a moving tribute to a nurse who dedicated her life to caring for the sick for over 60 years.

Brenda O'Hara, who has died aged 85, was a well known face in care homes across East Dorset, Poole and Christchurch.

She and her husband Pat also ran their own nursing home in Wimborne for many years.

"From a little girl she always wanted to be a nurse.

"She had a natural way with people and they loved her," said Mr O'Hara, of Station Road, West Moors.

"She was still working as an auxiliary up until nine years ago. She was just so dedicated."

Mrs O'Hara began her training at Poole Hospital but when war broke out she was given various driving jobs and even had to take her Heavy Goods Vehicle Licence.

"She was only 19 and was driving huge lorries of cement up over Portland," said Mr O'Hara, 87, a Dorset Police officer for over 22 years.

He said his wife had never really recovered from a knee operation nine years ago.

In recent years she enjoyed knitting, and spending time with their family sons Michael, Robin and Nick, a Wimborne funeral director, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Their daughter Bernadette was killed in a road accident when she was 17.

Mr O'Hara said: "Brenda was a truly lovely lady. Nobody in the world could have had a better wife than me."

A funeral service for Mrs O'Hara takes place at Poole Crematorium on August 5.