STOGUMBER stationmaster and MBE recipient Iris Horn died on Monday at a nursing home in Bishops Hull on the outskirts of Taunton at the age of 93.

Mrs Horn was a stalwart supporter of the West Somerset Railway and in June this year was awarded the MBE for her voluntary services to the rail industry.

She took over as stationmaster from her late husband, railwayman Harry.

She manned the station virtually every train-operating day - sometimes seven days a week - since the line officially reopened some 30 years ago.

A tribute to Mrs Horn on the railway's website described both her and her husband as "a truly lovely couple who will forever be in the hearts of everyone who were fortunate to meet them".

Mark Smith, chairman of the West Somerset Railway, said: "Iris was so much a part of the railway and especially the Stogumber scene.

"Passengers and visitors were always made so very welcome at the station.

"There was honey and other Somerset treats on sale and I was never short of an instruction or reminder if the company in any way fell behind with maintenance or repairs."

David Holmes, chairman of the West Somerset Railway Association, added: "Stogumber was Iris and Iris was Stogumber."

When she was awarded her MBE in June, Mrs Horn said she had been "amazed" to be nominated, particularly as she viewed her voluntary work as "enjoyable and interesting".

She even made sure the railway will not be forgotten after her death, with mourners invited to make donations in her memory in aid of a new waiting room at Stogumber station.

Her funeral will take place at St Mary's Church in Stogumber at 2pm on Wednesday, September 30.