A STALWART committee member, secretary and press correspondent of Withington Women's Institute has died.

Freda Wilkes was born, bred and spent her life in Withington and was an active member of Withington WI.

She worked hard as secretary, press correspondent and organiser of afternoon teas for visiting groups.

Freda contributed to village life in a number of ways including as secretary of the PCC and even during the past few years, as her health began to fail making it impossible for her to continue in office she still joined the WI on social occasions.

Chairman of the WI Eileen Dilley said: "She was a stickler for precise detail, rules and protocol. With this attention to detail, she wrote her monthly report of WI for Withington News without fail.

"Our appreciation of her conscientious work, efficiency, efforts and time contributed for WI are recorded with gratitude.

"She continued to send out birthday cards and act as our archivist up to the end."

During the January meeting, after the president announced the sad news of her death, just the day before, members observed a short silence in her memory.