by Hayley Robinson

More than 100 people are expected to attend a thanksgiving service on Wednesday in memory of charity stalwart Joyce Fuller.

The 88-year-old died of pneumonia at Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, on New Year’s Eve, just 24 hours after being admitted.

Her death came as a shock not only to her son Geoffrey, his wife Liz and their five-year-old twins Matthew and Ellie, but also the wider community.

The Mayor of Swale, Cllr Pat Sandle, will attend the memorial, which will take place at St Michael’s Church, Sittingbourne High Street, from 2pm.

MP Gordon Henderson will be in attendance and will give a reading, while Mrs Fuller’s son will read the eulogy.

The pensioner, of Berkeley Court, Sittingbourne, was well known across the borough for her tireless work for charity and community organisations.

She was vice-president of the Sittingbourne Society, president of Swale Footpaths Groups and a member of the joint governing body for The Oaks Infants and Minterne Junior School.

She was also an active member of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative Association, where she was deputy chairman with special responsibility for Conservative policy forum discussion.

But her work for the British Heart Foundation will be best remembered.

After losing her husband Bill, aged 58, to a heart attack in 1978, she set up the Swale and Sittingbourne branch for the charity in 1984.

Over the years she organised various fundraising events such as sponsored swims, walks and skipping events, generating £250,000 for the BHF.

Geoffrey said: “My mother was exceptional. Despite her increasing infirmities in later years, she continued to have an enormous amount of energy and a very positive attitude to life.

"Her sheer determination to keep active and to contribute to the community has been a huge inspiration to me.”

A private family funeral will be held on Wednesday morning.

Refreshments will be available at Hempstead House Hotel, London Road, Bapchild, after the memorial service.

Instead of flowers, people are asked to make a donation to the British Heart Foundation Sittingbourne branch via R. High and Sons, 1 Bayford Road, Sittingbourne, telephone 01795 472958.