WAREHAM Sunshine Club founder, Janet Bassett, has died at the age of 80.

Born on January 26, 1936 at Bovington Garrison Hospital, Janet Norma Bassett spent here early years at the camp due to her father being in the army, until he was called overseas during the Second World War.

Her grandfather, Tom Northover, owner of Northover's Garage at the top of North Street, and so Janet and her mother moved to live with her grandparents.

Seven years after she was born, the family welcomed her brother, Malcolm. Janet attended Swanage Grammar School, travelling by train each day, and after leaving education, she worked as a secretary at Admiralty at Holton Heath. She also enjoyed playing sport including cycling, swimming and won trophies for tennis.

Janet married Dennis Barnes, the son of a farmer from East Holme Farm, where the couple started married life. Her father-in-life built two houses on the main road in Stoborough and Janet moved into one of them, where they welcomed four children, Richard, Christine, Caroline and Mandy.

As a single mum, Janet worked for Basil Curtis the Butcher and then delivered papers for Daily Echo in Swanage, Corfe Castle and across Purbeck. Janet went on to marry George Bassett, who she spent many happy years with until his death in 1999.

In 1974, Janet's mother asked her whether she would consider taking on an over-60s club which was about to close and after some careful consideration, she agreed to give it a go.

With the help of a couple of friends, she started to make some changes, which included the group being renamed as Wareham Sunshine Club and asking her friend, Joy Hawkins, to help to run it.

The club enjoyed trips out to Blackpool and Torquay and members also went on holidays to Austria, Germany and Holland together.

Her work went on to be recogniser with a medal from Daily Echo in 1997 and she received a Daily Mail Golden Jubilee Unsung Hero Award in 2002. Janet's name is on a plaque in Wareham Town Hall and was invited to visit the Houses of Parliament in 2007 by Annette Brook, ex-MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole for a tour and afternoon tea.

Wareham Sunshine Club closed last year due to costs and Janet's health concerns, ending with a party at the Laguna Hotel in November.

Janet died on June 16 and her funeral took place on July 8 at Lady St Mary Parish Church, followed by a family service at Poole Crematorium.