A much-loved wife and volunteer with a “sunny smile” who spent 50 years at a local performing arts venue has died.

Yvonne Walker, who lived in Sheerness, was a dedicated member and vital part of the Sheppey Little Theatre.

Her husband of 37 years, Martin, described his wife as “very outgoing and friendly”.

He added: “She would do anything for anybody and was always thinking about other people before herself.

“She was full of life – that’s how most people saw her. Always smiling, always trying to help. Over the years she met so many people.

“She ushered for most of the shows over a period of time as well and got to be a very well-known person. Everybody loved her.”

Yvonne started helping out at the theatre in October 1975, when it was first opened by MP Hugh Jenkins, Minister for the Arts.

It is owned and run by the Sheppey Entertainments Association, which is a registered charity.

The building in Meyrick Road was previously a church hall but was purchased in 1969 for £1,000.

A team of volunteers and local businesses at the time helped renovate the empty shell and turned it into a fully functioning venue.

Martin said: “They had a lot of help from HMP Standford Hill at Eastchurch. The prisoners used to come down every day.

“Yvonne was one of the ladies that made meals for the people who were busy working.

“They [the theatre] were then asking for volunteers to help on show nights for ushering, running the bar and doing house management.

“She volunteered straight away and has just done it ever since.”

The 84-year-old was born in a house in Alexandra Road, Sheerness, during the middle of an air raid in the Second World War.

She grew up to have a strong passion for singing and was part of the Sheppey Phoenix Choir.

The couple met through their love of singing at a group called Seagulls and Guys.

After several members left, they decided to form their own in 1980 named the Meyrick Minstrels.

In 1986 the pair moved into a house together and by 1988 they had got married.

Yvonne has produced 42 shows, giving 102 performances in the first 35 years of the ensemble, and at least 15 shows within the last 10 years.

Martin says his wife has always dedicated her time to singing and helping the theatre.

The 63-year-old added: “She sorted out all the songs for the shows and used to make costumes.

“We spent most of our weekends going around charity shops trying to find stuff to use.”

Yvonne worked as a cleaner at West Minster Primary School in St George's Avenue before retiring and Martin was the site manager.

In October, she suddenly had an intense abdominal pain.

A gallstone had become trapped and blocked an opening inside her gallbladder. However, doctors were able to remove it safely.

Just after Christmas, she started to get an infection in the same area and it “spiralled” from there.

“Over the last few months she had loads of scans,” Martin explained. “They were planning on doing an operation.

“She needed to have a PET scan at Maidstone Hospital to rule out if it was cancer.

“One day she just couldn’t stand up – her blood pressure and oxygen levels were very low.”

Yvonne died on Monday, March 24, after four days in Medway Maritime Hospital. She leaves behind their two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Sheppey Little Theatre also posted a tribute on its social media page.

“It is with great sadness that we have learned that Yvonne Walker has passed away this morning,” it said.

“Yvonne has been fighting a battle with her health since the autumn.

“She has been volunteering at the theatre for many years and has led the singing group the Meyrick Minstrels along with her husband Martin.

“Our thoughts are with him today and with the rest of Yvonne's family.

“She will be much missed for her sunny smile and her can-do attitude. Rest in peace, dear friend.”