ONE of Herefordshire's most dedicated huntswomen will be laid to rest in the village where she spent most of her life.

Beth Elizabeth Gadesden was born in 1924 and lived with her family at The Homend estate, Stretton Grandison.

Her parents were heavily involved in the local hunt and encouraged Beth to take up the sport. She took part in her first hunt aged six and dedicated most of her life to the sport as she never married or worked.

By 1959, she had become secretary of the North Herefordshire Foxhounds, a post which she held for almost 20 years, as well as being acting master and joint master during the same period.

After the death of her mother in 1967, she sold The Homend estate, and lived in Little Manor in Edwyn Ralph before moving to Dulverton, Somerset, in 1980 and becoming involved in the Dulverton East Foxhounds.

Despite moving away, she remained a life member of the North Herefordshire Hounds, attended point-to-point races and never missed a puppy show.

Although she suffered from Alzheimers in recent years, she still managed to regularly attend hunts and took part in a meet the week before her death.

Her funeral was on Monday at St Lawrence Parish Church, Stretton Grandison.