A grandmother-of-four who co-founded the Royal British Legion in Macclesfield has died.

Avril Fearn, 79, from Tytherington, died in Macclesfield Hospital on Saturday, November 26, after battling cancer.

She was a prominent figure in the RBL, helping reform it in the 1970s and volunteering as chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Ron Bend, secretary of the Royal British Legion, said: “She was a very intelligent and bubbly person.

“If you were friends with Avril it was a friendship beyond reproach.

“She had a brilliant sense of humour.”

Len Johnson, chairman of the RBL, added: “Avril was a very respected and important member of the branch. She will certainly be missed.”

Mrs Fearn, nee Lade, was refused entry to the Navy and the WRAF due to a heart condition, but joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service aged 17 in 1950 by keeping her problem secret until she had completed her training.

She rose through the ranks of the Royal Artillery to become a staff sergeant and left in 1957 when she married her husband, Sgt Major William Fearn.

As she was such a great supporter of the Poppy Appeal, the cadets dedicated a prize for selling the most poppies to her when she could no longer collect herself.

Her daughter, Sandra, said this year was the first time she couldn’t attend the Armistice ceremony at Park Green, where she had laid a wreath for the Royal Artillery for the past 40 years.

She said: “She was very special. She was very, very independent and strong.

“My father died when I was 13 years old and she fought hard to look after the family.

“She  wanted to be useful and make a difference, she was very selfless, brave and courageous.”

Originally from Woodbridge, Mrs Fearn has two children, Sita and Sandra, and four grandchildren, Joanna, Hayley, Scott and Ben.

Her funeral is at 10am on Friday, December 9, at Macclesfield Crematorium.

There will be family flowers only but donations can be made to Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, MacMillan Cancer Support, The Christie or the Royal British Legion.