Staplehurst is in mourning after a woman who did so much for the village over many years passed away.

Cherry Fann (nee Grant) was born in Cheam, Surrey, in December 1933. She soon moved to Devon and was brought up in Seaton where her parents ran a pub, The Harbour.

She met her husband, Michael Fann, when the young Cambridge student came to work as a bartender during the university’s long break.

The couple married in October 1956 and had four daughters.

They moved to Staplehurst in 1972, living at Lindridge on the Marden Road, for 20 years. They then did up the old barn next door, and moved into that for another 20 years.

Mr Fann worked as a marketing manager with Kimberly Clark; Mrs Fann as a librarian at Staplehurst, Marden and Coxheath libraries.

She became greatly involved in the local community. She ran the Staplehurst Good Companions Club, and also the Age Concern Friday Club in Coxheath. She was a regular worshipper at All Saints Church in Staplehurst and served on the Parochial Church Council.

She was chairman of the Staplehurst Society, greatly expanding its historical archives, and on retirement was made its honorary life president.

Together with Anita Thompson and Dave Weller, she published a book Staplehurst: A Pictorial History in Old Postcards and Photographs, in 1990.

She organised annual village clean-ups, removing tons of rubbish from Staplehurst’s rural lanes, and personally delivered the parish magazine to many homes.

She was a parish councillor from 1987 to 1995, and was instrumental in seeing the conversion of the redundant village school into the Village Centre, becoming a trustee of the centre.

In her spare time, she kept sheep and enjoyed playing tennis.

Her daughter Charity Warnes said: “She was hugely family-orientated, and always smiling.”

A typical story related to the day Mrs Fann’s dog dug up a mole. Realising most children would never have seen one, she dashed into Staplehurst School to show the pupils.

In recent years, the couple moved to Marden.

Her husband Michael, 83, said: “Cherry was always welcoming and gave her time freely to others. She had an enormous sense of community and was a great believer in ‘what goes around, comes around’, but there is no doubt she gave much more than she ever took.

“We are enormously proud of all she achieved.”

Joan Buller knew her for nearly 40 years. She said: “She did so much for the village. My life is richer for having been her friend. It was a privilege to have known her.”

Mrs Fann died from pneumonia on June 26 in Tunbridge Wells Hospital. She was 82.

She leaves her husband, daughters Charity, Kate and Meg, and 13 grandchildren.

There will be a service of thanksgiving at All Saints Church, High Street, Staplehurst, at 3pm, on Friday, July 22.

The congregation is asked to wear cheerful colours. Family flowers only, but donations to the Hospice in the Weald or the Heart of Kent Hospice via J.Perigoe & Son, funeral directors, Bank Street, Cranbrook.