CLOSE family and former colleagues of the late ‘Miss Shirley’ gathered for the dedication of a bench in Tutshill.

Tidenham Parish Coun-

cil purchased the rustic addition in the summer, and last week Reverend David Treharne conducted a service in memory of Cicely Amy Shirley, who died last November aged 103.

Miss Shirley, as she was fondly known by villagers, served as a parish councillor and was a founder trustee of the Poor’s Allotment charity and trustee of the Recreation Ground Trust.

Cllr John Powell said: “She was a very generous lady; she gave the parish a field which she and her fellow trustees had planted with a variety of trees, shrubs and wild flowers.

“The field is known as ‘Shirley’s Grove’, and is amenity woodland used generally though not exclusively by the dog walkers of the parish. In recognition of Miss Shirley’s gift to the parish of Shirley’s Grove, Tidenham Parish Council has purchased a rustic seat and it has been sited in the grove.”

Among those present were Miss Shirley’s younger cousins Gerry and Jonathan Gallop, accompanied by Gerry’s wife Christine, Janet Clarke (goddaughter née Hayes) and her husband Sam, and Councillor John Powell.

Miss Shirley was born and lived her whole life in the house her father built in 1911 in Tutshill.