WIMBORNE in Bloom and charity supporter, Sylvia Elsie Warnock, has died at the age of 85.

Born in Southwark, London, as part of a family of eight siblings, which included Sylvia's six sisters and one brother, Sylvia was proud of her London heritage and had maintained clear memories of the Blitz.

After leaving education, she worked as a shop assistant in Spa and Co-Op and outside of her working life, she married her husband, Colin, in 1953.

Together the couple welcomed a daughter, Lelia, and later their grandchildren with whom they went on family holidays to Ramsgate.

Sylvia moved to Wimborne in January 2001 and told friends about her love of Dorset, the countryside and wildlife.

She was often known to sit on her motorised scooter on Canford Bridge overlooking the River Stour and then trundle into town to become an active part of the community.

Chris Brown, Wimborne Town crier, said that Sylvia was like his 'right hand man', helping him to distribute leaflets, help tourists and visitors and was seen as an excellent ambassador for the town. He said that this led to Sylvia being the recipient of Wimborne's first Civic Pride Award.

He said that Sylvia was well known in Wimborne as the 'scooter lady' enjoying the freedom and independence that this gave her. She also loved Wimborne In Bloom and was always involved in the annual duck race along with the group's other events.

Wimborne in Bloom is a voluntary organisation which needs to raise in excess of £19,000 a year to fund their work to bring a host of colour to the town for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Sylvia died on February 17 at the age of 85 and her funeral took place at Poole Crematorium on Friday, March 11, with donations going to Wimborne in Bloom.