THE first doctor to be elected chair of the Hereford branch of the National Council of Women has died at the age of 89.

Moira Allington, who died on March 1, will be remembered for her health authority work across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, which included the establishment of the Child Development Centre on Ross Road.

Born and raised in London, Moira was educated at Henrietta Barnett School, in Golders Green, before being accepted into Cambridge University, where she played netball and hockey for Girton College.

Qualifying to practice medicine at a time when there was much prejudice against women becoming doctors, Moira worked at Bristol Children's Hospital - gaining a diploma in Child Health - before moving to Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester.

She married William Allington and became school doctor for the city before being promoted to Senior Medical Officer of Health for Worcestershire.

She moved to Herefordshire in 1971 with a special responsibility for children with special needs. The Development Centre on Ross Road was later set up for the assessment and treatment of children under five.

On one occasion, she gave a talk to the local branch of the National Council of Women about her work at the centre.

After retirement, she became an active member of the branch and sat on Baroness Warnock's Human Fertility and Embryology Committee as the local representative of the organisation's health committee.

She was subsequently elected chair of the local branch of The National Council of Women - the first doctor to hold the position.

She is survived by her daughter Vivienne, son-in-law Jon and grandchildren Ellen and Annie.

Her funeral took place at Llandinabo Church on Monday.