Violet Smith from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, whose ancestors have lived in the village since the times of the Queen Elizabeth I, has died aged 96.

She died on April 26 and her funeral will be at St John's Roman Catholic Church in Wallingford at 11am today.

Three years ago she presented a book of her memoirs of the village to the historical society of which she was an enthusiastic member.

She said that tales told by her to her grandchildren during long drives in the countryside prompted her to put them down on paper.

She said: "Now everyone can read about them."

The stories of village life in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell over 90 years are also on CD.

Mrs Smith, of Holmwood, was born at the Laburnums in Slade End, Sotwell, in 1910 when her father was head gardener at Style Acre.

Except for the war years, when her husband Eric was posted to various places during his army service, she has lived in the village all her life.

As well as teaching at Wallingford Grammar school, at Didcot Girls' School and in Uxbridge, she also helped dyslexic children at her home while she taught at Brightwell primary school. Her husband died in 1971. She leaves three sons.