A former infant school headmistress in Wantage for 28 years, who was also active in the life of the town's parish church, has died aged 79.

Winifred Martin, who used to live in Priory Road, died peacefully on January 17 at Framland residential care home in Naldertown, where she had been for a year.

Miss Martin was a teacher for 40 years, and head of Wantage Infants School from 1956 to 1984.

In an article she wrote for the Wantage Churchman parish magazine more than ten years ago Miss Martin, said: "I was so fortunate in having a loyal staff, supportive parents and quite the nicest children anyone could wish to teach."

On retirement, she became the sacristan at SS Peter and Paul, the Wantage parish church, a job which she described as a "joy and privilege". A funeral mass was held at the church today.