TRIBUTES have been paid to a former town councillor and community volunteer.

Joy Masefield, once a Wotton town councillor and member of the town's amateur dramatic society, died recently at the age of 94.

She had lived in Wotton-under-Edge for 20 years between 1976 and 1996, and during that time made a lasting impact on all those who knew her.

Robin Masefield, one of her sons, said: "My mother's was an extraordinarily full life, with a consistent commitment to the service of others.

"This too applied to her dedication to her family. She was also an accomplished cook, knitter, gardener and a much-loved mother of four, grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 12.

"How she found time for it all, and yet never showed stress, is amazing."

Mrs Masefield, originally from London, moved to the town in 1976 with her husband Geoffrey after he had retired from almost 30 years of lecturing at Oxford University.

She quickly joined many local groups and societies and was an active member of the Wotton Dramatic Society between 1980 and 1991, during which time she wrote three plays and pantomimes and produced nine plays, winning a number of prizes at county level with the group.

Mrs Masefield also joined the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, received its medal for long service, and delivered both meals on wheels and books on wheels for many years, often to clients younger than herself.

As a member of the Wotton's Women's Institute, Mrs Masefield was chosen as its delegate to the county committee of Age Concern in Gloucester.

In 1984 she organised a large public meeting at Wotton to support the charity's call for more day centres for the elderly. Through her and others' efforts a day centre for the housebound was set up in Wotton.

During her time in Wotton, Mrs Masefield sat as an independent councillor on Wotton Town Council and served for four years as chairman of its Allotments and Recreation Committee, on which she was active in promoting children's playgrounds. She stood down from the council in 1994 at the age of 81.

June Cordwell, a town councillor who remembered working with Mrs Masefield, said: "She was very active as a town councillor and did a lot for the town while on the council.

"Joy helped to refurbish the town play area. That was her project and that's what she'll be remembered for."

Mr and Mrs Masefield left Wotton in the late 1990s and moved to Teign estuary in Devon. Mr Masefield died in 2001.

Mrs Masefield's funeral service was held at Bournemouth Crematorium last Friday.