NURSE Myrtle Elizabeth Weir-Lewis, who had lifelong links to the village of Brook, has died aged 82.

Mrs Weir-Lewis was born in Brook on the Island in 1936, one of three children to Alfred and Daisy Newbery.

She remembered her childhood on the Island fondly, especially on one occasion when a soldier 'gifted' her a Churchill tank, stationed in the village, for her birthday.

For the majority of her working life, she was secretary to Dr Frank Kennedy of Wootton Lodge, developing a close relationship with the Kennedy family that lasted her lifetime.

During this time, she met Bob Weir during a chance encounter when he was casually playing the church organ at St Mary’s Church, Brook, without permission.

They married at St Edmund's Church, Wootton, in 1956, with a reception at Wootton Lodge.

The couple lived in Drill Hall Road, Newport, and had five children David, John, Julia, Angela and Helen.

Mrs Weir-Lewis’s ambition was to be a nurse and she achieved this when a post became available at St Mary’s Hospital's endoscopy unit. She was also a keen artist and gardener.

She and Mr Weir separated but remained firm friends until the death of Mr Weir in 2003.

Mrs Weir-Lewis later married accountant Fred Lewis, and they moved to Brook. Mr Lewis died in 2005, and Mrs Weir-Lewis downsized to a home in Freshwater.

Despite a catastrophic operation in 2005 and being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016, she carried on an active life.

She maintained firm links with Brook village and the Newbery family throughout her life and for many years maintained the church flowers at St Mary’s Church, until ill health prevented her.

She was cared for at the Mountbatten Hospice and died at Woodside Hall care home in Wootton.

A funeral service was held on July 29 at St Mary's Church.

She is survived by her five children, daughter-in-law Linda, son-in-law Rob, sisters Erica and Rosemary, brother-in-law Brian and grandchildren Charles, Tom, William, Davy, Amber, Ashley and Darcy.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.