POPULAR infant school teacher and aids support volunteer Josephine Miller has died at the age of 91.

Born in Lincolnshire, she was just six weeks old when she was put up for adoption and taken in by loving parents in the Cotswolds.

Known to friends and loved ones as Jo, she met her husband, Dick, while they both worked for the postal service and they married in 1949 and shared 60 years of marriage together.

They initially lived in Bournemouth before moving to Highcliffe with their children, Mary and their late son, Simon.

Aged 26, Mrs Miller contracted bacterial meningitis and was looked after for two years at Lymington Hospital and St Charles Hospital in London.

Following paralysis and numerous lumbar punctures, she survived thanks to the care of medical and nursing staff and the use of an antibiotic on trial in the USA at the time. However, she was informed that her life would be cut short as a consequence.

After bringing up her own children, Mrs Miller trained as a primary school teacher at the De La Salle College and her first job was at St Joseph's R.C. School in Somerford in the mid-1960s. After this, she went on to teach at Somerford and Christchurch infant schools and played music for many nativity and school plays. She was also the organist at St Joseph's Church in Purewell for a number of years.

Her son, Simon, was HIV positive and sadly died at the age of 30 in 1989. His mother then worked tirelessly as a volunteer with HIV patients in London, often looking after men in hospital during their last few days, and offered support to many who had been abandoned by their families.

After retiring aged 60, she was a fundraiser and trustee with Sanctuary Aids/HIV hospice in Bournemouth.

She also worked as an invigilator during exams at Bournemouth University at the age of 85 and was an active member of the Anglo Italian Society for a number of years, becoming fluent in the language.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary, granddaughter, Sarah, and great grandson, Rowan. Her second grandson, Simon Smith, died aged 37 in 2006.

A requiem mass for Mrs Miller took place at the Holy Redeemer Church in Highcliffe on Wednesday, October 14, followed by a service at Bournemouth Crematorium with donations going to Marie Curie.