NORA Palmer, a former stalwart of Deddington Church and teacher at St Mary's Primary School in Banbury, has died, aged 92.

Her husband, Canon George Palmer, was vicar of Deddington from 1963 until he retired in 1978.

Mrs Palmer played a prominent part in church affairs, and she brought about the enrolment of 32 men, ladies, boys, and girls into the choir in April 1964.

She also inspired parishioners, by her own good example, to raise money for hymn books, psalters, anthem books, and to help with the sewing of robes.

She taught music at St Mary's School, before she and her husband retired back to Preston Crowmarsh, near Benson, where they had strong links.

Canon Palmer died in 1993.

Mrs Palmer was a member of Oxfordshire County Council's child care committee, a member of various local choirs and choral societies, and a talented piano accompanist for every occasion. She was latterly the president of the Benson "Evergreens" - the retirement club which she and her husband founded in the 1950s.

Because of increasing frailty, Mrs Palmer moved into the Beaumont Nursing Home at Boars Hill, Oxford, in 2004.

She still managed the occasional holiday to Bournemouth and was only recently talking of taking her family on a cruise to St. Petersburg - a dream that was never to be realised.

A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held in Benson Church on Saturday, January 13, at noon, followed by the interment of her ashes.

Donations in her memory are to be given to St. Helen's Church, c/o The Reverend Andrew Hawken, The Vicarage, Church Rd, Benson OX10 6SF or sent to the funeral directors: Chadwicks, Clock House Cottage, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh, OX10 8ED. Tel: 01491 825222.