MANY are mourning a popular Herefordshire doctor who is said to have lived her life to the full, never wasted a minute and selflessly put others before herself.

Dr Margaret Armitstead, who was 80, died in hospital in Wolverhampton last week and a service of remembrance for her life was held at Leominster's Green Lane Methodist Church yesterday (Wednesday).

Much of her life was spent in the Leominster area and she earned a reputation for being able to do many things at the same time and constantly trying to smooth the path for people in the community.

For 25 years she was a GP in the town and rural area, doctor to many schools and was a magistrate for 32 years.

Dr Armitstead, ne Gerrard, was born in northern Rhodesia where her parents were medical missionaries.

She was educated in England and studied medicine at Manchester University where she met her husband, the late Dr Lewis Armitstead.

The couple came to Leominster in 1959, both as GPs, and became very active members of the community.

Dr Armitstead had strong links with the Methodist Church and the Inner Wheel, of which she was president on two occasions.

She became a JP in the 1960s, a position she held for 32 years, including chairman for three years.

The doctor worked extensively with itinerant travellers and undertook research into the birth of twins.

Her other activities included Leominster Choral Society, Friends of the Three Choirs Festival, Stoke Prior WI, Herefordshire and Radnorshire Nature Trust and Leominster Historical Society.

Dr Armitstead was devoted to her family and had a strong network of friends locally, nationally and internationally.

She became ill earlier this year needing surgery, but while undergoing treatment she picked up a serious infection, from which she died on July 12.

Her husband died four years ago, also aged 80.

Dr Armitstead is survived by a brother and sister, her four children Ruth, John, Martin and Mary-Clare and seven grandchildren.