RESPECTS have been paid to the founder of the 4th Oakley Brownie pack, Connie Hall, after she died in her sleep at Oak Lodge last month.

Mrs Hall, 92, and her husband Arthur, who died in 2007, were well-known figures in the Oakley community.

Both were members of the Civil Service Retirement Fellowship, with Connie a member of the Women’s Institute and a keen fundraiser for Help for Heroes.

Such was her standing with the military charity, the Military Wives Choir will be singing at her funeral.

Godfrey Hall, Mrs Hall’s son, said: “Connie had tenacity, determination and a willingness to get time to others.

“An amazing lady, she will sorely be missed by all who knew her. I spoke to her an hour before she peacefully passed away and as a religious lady she always said that when the time was right the Lord would take her away – so it was how Connie would have wished to pass on.”

Along with the Reverend John Litton, Connie started the 4th Oakley Brownie pack in 1976.

Girl-guiding Hampshire North Commissioner Angela Hammond, who took over the 4th Oakley Brownie pack in 1980, said: “She always gave her time freely and whenever she saw there was a need for something or a service she would try and find a way to fill that need.

“The girls all respected her and she had all the right skills to teach and in guiding she was a valued leader.” 

Connie was an avid traveller, touring the UK and France with Arthur in their caravan.

Valerie Bullions, a friend of Connie, said: “A ‘force to be reckoned with’ would be the only way to describe Connie. Always at the call of somebody that was ill or in need with a cake, meal or offers of help in anyway she could.”

A memorial service will be held at St Leonard’s Church, Oakley on June 4 at 10am.