KEEN golfer, chained library volunteer and grandmother of eight grandchildren Shirley Smart has died at the age of 89.

Shirley was born in Portsmouth before being evacuated with her mother to Wimborne during the blitz in 1942 to stay with her aunt, who was the manageress of Woolworths in Wimborne. Shirley went to a small school near Canford School while staying the area before she was able to return to Portsmouth where she joined the Lake Road Baptist Church.

In 1957, she married her husband Keith at St Mary's Church Portsmouth, before living in Farnborough for the next 30 years. The happy couple welcomed three children, Andrew, who went on to become a comedian, Neil who serves as a vicar in Brockenhurst and Rosalind, who works as a part-time teacher.

She took up golf at the Army Golf Club and held the title of their Lady Captain in 1981. Shirley and Keith moved to Wimborne and they both joined Broadstone Golf Club and were active committee members. During this time, Shirley put on two shows at the golf club, including Oklahoma and Broadstone Broadway. Shirley was also the county delegate for the club and attended meetings all over Dorset.

She was asked by staff from Wimborne Minster to guide visitors to the chained library each Friday morning, which was founded 1686. She soon became a popular part of the library, telling visitors about the history within the pages of the books and later became a visiting speaker to talk to the wider community about the library.

She died on December 21 and her funeral was held at Poole Crematorium on Tuesday, January 5, with those attending having been asked to wear bright colours in tribute to Shirley. People were asked not to bring flowers but instead to make a donation if they could in aid of The MS Society – Bournemouth Branch.