Doreen Townsend, born in Leafield, who became a GI bride in the Second World War, has died, aged 79.

Mrs Townsend married Earl Hellemn while he was serving in this country.

She followed him to his family farm in Oregon, USA, in 1946 and worked at a woollen mill before starting a new career in cake decorating using her English cooking school background.

She opened her own business called The Lovin' Oven and was a judge at many cake competitions throughout the north west of America and Canada. She often returned to the UK to visit her family.

She is survived by her husband, four daughters, and three grandchildren.