VIOLET McGovern, the niece of Lark Rise to Candleford author Flora Thompson, has died aged 85.

Mrs McGovern died peacefully in Banbury’s Horton Hospital on June 9.

Violet, or Vi as she was known to friends, was born in the tiny village of Hethe, in the north east of Oxfordshire, where she lived all her life.

She was the youngest child of six, born to Albert and May Lane.

Her mother was the sister of Flora Thompson, who was born in the nearby hamlet of Juniper Hill.

Violet started school at the Holy Trinity Church on the outskirts of Hethe and left aged 14.

She enjoyed the freedom of country life, running through fields, leaping stiles and helping with the family allotment.

Her father was an invalid who needed to use a wheelchair and one of Violet’s tasks was to push him to the cobbler’s shop at the bottom of the village.

Villages in the area often held annual sports days and Violet gained a reputation as a fine sportswoman.

In August 1943, she married Tom McGovern in Holy Trinity Church, while he was a member of the British Armed Forces.

After spending a week together, Mr McGovern was posted to Italy and for the next six years he and his wife did not see each other.

Mrs McGovern had a number of jobs and worked at RAF Bicester and on Hawkins’ farm in Hethe, as well as bringing up four children.

One of the part-time jobs she stuck with the longest was delivering the Oxford Mail and Bicester Advertiser around Hethe.

In rain, hail, snow or fog – whatever the weather – she never failed to deliver, even if ill.

She completed her newspaper round for nearly 46 years and always offered a cheerful word of wisdom to those she met along the way.

Her unmistakable trait was a bicycle adorned with Tesco bags, containing the bundles of newspapers.

She finally hung up her Oxford Mail delivery bag at the age of 81.

Mrs McGovern never met her famous aunt, but she claimed to have letters linked to Flora which will no doubt remain in the family.

A true village character, she will be sorely missed by family and friends.