TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman who has died after devoting 60 years of her life to volunteering with the St John Ambulance.

By the time she died, 71-year-old Jeanne Mercer had achieved the honour of being named a Dame of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem.

Her husband Roy, of Mount Pleasant, Tenterden, said: "Jeanne's life has been so rich and rewarding in every way. She had a knack of being able to make people feel comfortable, put them at ease and solve problems."

He stressed: "She was a totally caring person and loved people. She was very interested in helping others, particularly the sick."

Mrs Mercer's activities with the charity began before she was 11. Too young to become a cadet, she volunteered to act as a patient for competitions. And in 1943, she jumped at the first opportunity to become a proper member. She became a cadet in Herne Bay where she was brought up.

Mr Mercer said: "When I met her six years later, I knew that if I was to have a chance of marrying this lady, I would have to involve in St John myself - and I have been involved ever since."

The couple married on March 14, 1953, and spent many years of their lives moving across southern England, as Mr Mercer was promoted in his banking career.

But, everywhere they went, Mrs Mercer involved herself particularly with St John, but also with many other organisations.

Her list of achievements with the charity is endless, but notable events include 1971 when she was appointed the first ever woman area commissioner, when she was given a mention in the national press.

"I have lost count of the number of people she has looked after," added Mr Mercer. "But it runs into hundreds."

Mrs Mercer was given a silver medal by the Knights of the Road when the couple stopped to help at the scene of an accident in Chatham Hill.

In 1972, she became county superintendent for Kent for St John and later she worked as chief welfare officer for the whole country.

When she died, she was a member of the Council of the Order of St John and her husband was vice-chairman.

Her activities with the church have been many. She led the Young Wives in Tenterden from 1968 to 1975 and, until she died, she was leader of the Mother's Union at St Mildred's in Tenterden.

Vanessa Hannan, chief executive of St John ambulance in Kent, led tributes to the life and work of Mrs Mercer.

She said: "Her dedication and commitment to the work of St John's has, over the last 60 years, been quite outstanding, in honour of which she was made Dame of the Order of St John's in 1987.

"She really was quite unusual in her dedication. Wherever she went, she always found ways of supporting the work of the charity.

"She was very, very committed and would attend events all across the county.

"People like her take a theme of continuity with them and she was always a very dignified and very caring person, who brought something special to whatever she did. We really are going to miss her."

The funeral is planned for Monday, May 12, at noon at St Mildred's Church, Tenterden, followed by a private cremation. Mr Mercer has asked for any donations for St John Ambulance, Kent, to be sent via Fuggles of Tenterden.