A magistrate, businesswoman and leading community activist has died at the age of 59 following a battle against cancer.

Wendy Smith, of Badswell Lane, Appleton, near Cumnor, became a magistrate in 1988, initially on the Abingdon Bench.

She later joined the Southern Oxfordshire Division where she helped train newly-appointed magistrates.

She retired in 2001 at the outset of her illness.

She was heavily involved in village life and was a director and one-time chairman of the Appleton Community Shop.

Margaret Reading, chairman of the Appleton with Eaton Parish Council, said: "Wendy's enthusiasm for the village showed through her determination to keep the shop going.

"Baking, newspaper rounds, computer programmes, obtaining financial support from the Vale of White Horse District Council and weekly shopping trips -- nothing was too much trouble.

"The Appleton Lunch Club enjoyed her culinary skills over many years."

"Wendy will leave an enormous gap in the community.

The village nominated her for the Oxfordshire Woman of the Year 2002 competition.

Raised in Essex, Mrs Smith graduated in physics from Hull University, and then became a technical editor at the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Later, she set up a publishing company with her husband Roger.

Mr and Mrs Smith moved to Appleton in 1976, when she was appointed technical editor at the Energy Technology Support Unit in Harwell helping to produce profiles of companies successfully using alternative energy.

She published the World Energy Directory in 1985.

Mrs Smith was also a leading light in the Wantage Ridgeway Harmony ladies' barbershop group, which sang at a service celebrating her life at St Michael's Church, Cumnor on November 9.

She is survived by her husband, daughters Liz and Ruth and two grandchildren.