TRIBUTES have been paid to Timberscombe Village Hall caretaker Joyce Smith, who has retired after 36 years at the age of 88.

Mrs Smith stepped down from the role at this year’s village flower show, which was held in the hall.

She had revived the flower show in 1984 after an absence of 40 years and went on to organise it for the next 21 years before handing over to Wendy Cook in 2005.

Mrs Smith continued to help the flower show as a steward, including this year, when she was presented with retirement gifts from village hall chairman Martin Booth, who praised her as ‘a highly valued member of our community’.

She had also been Timberscombe School caretaker and a playgroup leader, and a cleaner in St Petrock’s Church for 38 years.

Mrs Smith has also been a well-known photographer in the community over the generations, with many of her photographs now kept in the archive of St Petrock’s History Group.

The flower show revival came about after Mrs Smith and her late husband Eddie won a village competition for the tallest sunflower.

The village hall was looking for ways to raise money and Mrs Smith suggested an annual flower show, to which the parish council agreed - but only if she organised it.

Many West Somerset villages held flower shows, but it had been about 40 years since one took place in Timberscombe.

Mrs Smith said she ‘did not have a clue’ how to run a flower show, but was helped by Mr Smith and his step-uncle the late Sidney Ridd, better known as ‘Uncle Sid Ridd’.

Both men were known for growing vegetables and fruit and already entered many other flower shows.

More help also came from Marion Fewlass, who worked with Mrs Smith at Timberscombe School and also the village’s Jubilee Stores.