LOVED ones and friends said a final farewell at the funeral of Ursula Hall-Thompson, wife of a former Mayor of Hythe, Rear Admiral Derrick Hall-Thompson.

Mrs Hall-Thompson, who lived in Saltwood, near Hythe, died in her sleep at the home of one of her sons in London at the weekend. She was 88.

Mrs Hall-Thompson was also known in Hythe for her work with the Guide movement and the Red Cross.

She was born in Exeter, the daughter of Colonel Harold Street. When she was only 16 she ran her father's household while he was Commandant of the Small Arms School in Hythe. In 1933 she joined the Red Cross.

She was a keen skier and spent time in Andermatt, Switzerland. It was at the White Hare Ski Club in Andermatt where she became engaged to Commander Derrick Hall-Thompson RN. They married in 1938 and honeymooned for six weeks in the south of France.

Before the war, Mrs Hall-Thompson was made Tawny Owl of the 1st Hythe Brownie Guide pack and after retiring became an active member of the Friends of Guiding.

In 1939 she was called up for service and spent the early 1940s as a casualty VAD at Shorncliffe, near Hythe, with her friend Frances Deedes.

She spent her days removing shotgun pellets from German airmen shot at by Kent farmers. She also spent time caring for the serious casualties from Dunkirk many of whom did not survive their burns and wounds.

Later on in the war she moved to Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, where she watched the Battle of Britain along with fellow nurses. They would watch the vapour trails and when an allied plane was shot down they would leave the pool and prepare the operating theatre.

During this time her husband was on convoy duty in Russia and Malta. In 1944 he was posted to HMS Nimrod, Cambeltown in Scotland and her first son Michael was born.

At the end of the war she received the Defence Medal. In 1950 her husband was appointed Captain of HMS Vanguard. Their second son Charles was christened on board in 1951. In 1950 Mrs Hall-Thompson joined the Littlestone Golf Club. She was Ladies Captain in 1962, 1963 and 1982 and Lady President from 1996-1998.

She started the Shepway Stragglers Golf Match between the Kent Cricket Club and Lady Golfers of Littlestone and was also a member of the Kent Ladies Golf Association where she was made county competition secretary between 1975 and 1992.

Mrs Hall-Thompson remained an active member of the Red Cross throughout her life. She retired as Deputy President of Kent in 1989 and was appointed retired members secretary. In 1991 she was appointed honorary Vice President.

In 1993 she received the Queen's Badge of Honour for 60 years service in the Red Cross.

She was also an active member of the Conservative Association, a keen Wye Beagler, and a supporter of the Townswomen's Guild for which she received a long service award for in 1999.

Her other interests included supporting the RNLI, the Hythe Flower Club which she herself founded, the Hythe Civic Society and visiting the Folkestone race courses. Her son Charles said: "She loved her family and had a great sense of duty. A lot of people will remember her for her sense of humour."

Jo Marsh, of Hythe Red Cross said: "She was a character and was such a positive person with a very good sense of humour. I shall miss her very much indeed."

Her two sons and five grandchildren survive her.