A LARGE congregation came to pay their respects at the funeral of Lesley Bater, held on February 2 at St John the Baptist Church, Hatherleigh.

Lesley died suddenly after a very short illness on January 21 in the ITU at the RD&E, Exeter, aged 56.

She was well known through various activities in which she helped out in the community. She and her husband Dennis ran the local fish and chip shop for more than 30 years and had planned to retire the week after her death.

Lesley also worked at Hatherleigh Primary School, where she had been for more than nine years, since her children attended there.

The Rev Alex Welby conducted the service and organist was Mrs M Cleverdon.

During the service a poem was read by Mr Welby, which was composed by Lesley's youngest daughter, Nicola.

Lesley will be greatly missed by all her family, friends and work colleagues, and leaves behind loving husband Dennis, her three children Lisa, Garry and Nicola and four grandchildren.

Family mourners: Dennis Bater, husband; Lisa Kerr, daughter; Garry and Louise Bater, son and daughter-in-law; Nicola Bater and Steve Cook, daughter and partner.

Mr and Mrs Robert Gooding, brother and sister-in-law; Mr and Mrs Anthony Squire, sister- in-law and husband; Mr and Mrs Chris Edmonds, sister-in-law and husband; Richard Gooding, Ian Gooding, Mr and Mrs Stephen Squire, Simon Squire, Miss Sarah Squire, Miss Elizabeth Edmonds and Adrian Edmonds, nephews and nieces.

Derek Ling and Stephen Ling, cousins (rep Eric Ling, uncle); Mrs Gill Hopton and Mr Peter Gooding, cousins (Mrs Betty Gooding); Norman Lacey, Mr and Mrs Winsborrow (Mr and Mrs S Saltern); Mr and Mrs Graham Tomlin (Mr and Mrs L Walke and Mr and Mrs D Walke and family); Arthur Weeks, Mr and Mrs Ron Pope (Mrs D Bater); Mr and Mrs Anthony Bater, Mr and Mrs Ian Balsdon, Mrs Joan Bennett (A Bennett and Miss K Agnew); Mrs L Woollacott.

Unable to attend: Peter Kerr, son-in-law; Caitlin, James, Olivia and Daniel Kerr, grandchildren, in New Zealand. Miss K Gooding (niece) and Gordon Causley.

Other family members: Mrs Daphne Barrett, Mrs Isabel Duchene (rep Ballot, France), Mrs Ginny Butler, Mrs Judith James (S Guard).

Bearers were Messrs Roy Barrett, Chris Edmonds, Richard Gooding, Dennis Preece, Anthony Squire, Graham Tomlin.

Sympathisers were: Messrs and Mesdames B Abell, R Alford (Nick Alford and Karen Alford and Mr Chris Borchard), Kevin Anstey, C Bater,G Brooks,Bill Cann (Devon County Council), Castle, Kevin Cockwill, Steve Collier (Nat West Bank, Hatherleigh), Master A Collier (Class 6 School), Barry Cook and Miss Karen Cook, W H Dennis, Gary Dilling, Richard Dilling, Brian Doidge (family),R Edwards, T Farley, Steve Fawcett, Peter Ferris, P Fishleigh (Mr and Mrs G Cox and Mr and Mrs P Higgenson), L Gilbert (Mr and Mrs White), Greenhill, Digby Greenhill, John Hill (Mr M Smale and Mr M Smale), John Hockridge (West Devon BC), J Hodgkinson (Tussie Two), Graham Holbrow (former headmaster Hatherleigh Primary School), Tony Hunt, Jewell, B Jones, Graham Kerr, Andy Lane and Miss Gemma Lane, Rod Lane, Brian Letheren (D Tunmore), Maslin, D Molyneaux, Malcolm Netherway, Sid Newcombe, I Norman, Mark Reddaway, G Reynolds, Richardson, John Roberts, G Sanders, Derek Sanders, Mark Squire and Miss Eliza Squire, D Stevens, Richard Tidball, I Trenaman (Mr and Mrs G Trenaman), R Tucker, Greg Vick, Roger Vick, Waddington, Robin Wonnacott, S Wonnacott, Mr and Mrs Wren, Mr and Mrs M Moore,

Messrs W Anstey (Ms T Stevens), Jack Anstey (Mrs Isabel Anstey), G Bush, P Bowden (Mrs Bowden), Basil Brock, C Barnett (Mrs Barnett), G Causley, Derek Coysh, Alan Cranleigh, Charles Coffin, Jeffe Cunliffe (family and Community Council of Devon), John Darch (West Devon BC), Martin Daw, A Dennis (Mrs Dennis), S Dennis (Mrs Dennis and Mr and Mrs J Cleave), J Down, K Drew, Lewis, Terry Reynolds (Hatherleigh Fire Service), Dumpleton, C Dumpleton, Robin Dumpleton and Miss Amanda Greenhill, G Dunn, D Edwards, G Facks-Martin, E Gill (Mr and Mrs P Gay), T Goss (Mrs Goss), Peter Hill, (Mayor West Devon BC), Robin Hill, Tony Conner (Mrs Isabel Conner and Steve Conner), J Hindson (Mrs S Johnson), D Horn (Mrs Horn), D Hughes (West Devon BC), (Mrs Hughes), A Hunkin (Ms C Cottle), Ken Hutchings (Mrs S Hutchings), R Jones (Mrs Jones and family), A King (Mrs King), D King, M King (Mr and Mrs W Voaden), D Lucioni, Cllr R Matthew (WDBC), R Medland (Miss M Medland), Sid Netherway (Mrs L Netherway and Miss M Netherway), B Parker (P Wilson, Mrs M Taylor), S Peard, Phare (Monkokehampton Parish Council), Piper, Cllr R Pike (WDBC), Neil Price, P Row, J Rumford, R Sampson, George Searle (Alan Searle, Mrs Elaine Sercombe), Severs, A Stewart (Holsworthy Town Council), M Thomas (Mrs Thomas), Dr Twomey (Mrs Twomey), A Ward (Mrs J Ward, Mr and Mrs G Saunders and Nurse Martin, Marty), Cllr Dave Weeks (WDBC), Chris Woollacott,

Mesdames B Agnew, J Alshawi and Miss Nadra Alshawi, Tracey Anstey (R Anstey), J Arthurs, Ash, Miss C Ash, Claire Aubin (Mrs Lyn Ewen), B Babb, B Beaman, Pat Bottoms (Mr Bottoms), Heather Bartle, Baker (Mr Baker, Venton), Janet Chapman (Miss Tricia Rundle and Hatherleigh Netball), Christopher, P Cole, Bev Coleman, Mrs H Croom (Mr Croom), K Cooper, N Cross, M Daniel (Clive Daniel and G Daniel), Rose Davis (Sarah Davis, Ben Davis and Michelle), M Dennis (Mr Dennis, F Dennis and Mr and Mrs Harry James), I Dodd (Hatherleigh School governors), Judith Downes (Mrs M Smale), D Drew (Mr Drew), Jackie Entwistle (Mr Entwistle), Julie Fishleigh (Mr Fishleigh and Mr and Mrs D Denford), R Ford (Mr Ford), Sue Forrester, Cllr Margaret Garton (West Devon BC), S Gibson, J Goaman, Eileen Gold, Cllr Mandy Govier, Cllr C Grills, Jane Grimshaw, B Grindley (Mr Grindley), T Guest (family), Lyn Hallwell (Mrs Mary Case), Emma Hawker, Jackie Hedges, D Herrod-Taylor, Hicks (Tony), G Hockin (Mr and Mrs F Downing), J Holl, Gill Jarvis (M W Jarvis, M W Jarvis, Susan Chapman), Chrissie Jeffries (G Causley), J Jones, A Hughes, Anita Kidby and Katherine Kilsby, A Kimber, J King, Lesley Kingcombe, Jane Knight, Debbie Laing-Trengrove, B Laughton, Legg - Bagg, M Lock, J Mackenzie and Mrs R Bushell (Sure Start), Christine Marsh (Mayor of Okehampton, rep Mr Marsh and Okehampton Town Council), P Martin, May, Miles, J Millership, Linda Mitchell (headmistress, Hatherleigh Primary School), J Moore (Mr and Mrs T Cook, Mr and Mrs S Doidge), S Moore, Elaine Morgan, June Morris, S Moss (Mrs E Yelland and family), P Moyse, B Pearse, J Pedrick, Caroline Perry, Jenny Piddington, Doris Piper, Wendy Powlesland (Mrs L Reynolds), Pyle (Mr P Pyle), M Reynolds, Olive Reynolds (Hatherleigh Bowling Club and Mr and Mrs C Weeks), R Reynolds (Mr Reynolds), C Risdon (Mr Risdon and Julie Thorn), Mary Risdon (Mrs A Hain), Rockett (P Rockett), V Row, J Sanders (Mr Sanders and Mrs D Armstrong), K Sanders, B Shaw (former headmistress Hatherleigh Primary School, S Smith, M Steer (Mrs Harris and Mrs Stacey), Rachel Stephens, P Taylor, Tonkin, D Vernon (Mr Vernon), Walters (Mr and Mrs M Dann), W Ward (Mr Ward and Mr and Mrs Mitchell) M Weeks, J Welby, Josie Westlake, J Westlake, J Whitcombe, Lyn Winerals, Gill Winser (Mr and Mrs K Westcott), L Winser (Mr Winser), Lady J Whiteley, C Woollacott, Gillian Woollacott,

Jack and Sandy Anstey, Marcus and Libby Barrett, Maurice and Marina Hillman (Mrs R Cole), Tony and Marilyn Johns, Judy Owens, Vi and James Parker, Dawlish; Jo Royal, Doreen Smith, Ian and Lyn Strawbridge,

Ms J Anderson (George Hotel), Ms L Baker, Ms R Boswell, Ms M Bridgman, Ms S Brock (Norman and Ricky), Ms C Bruce (Hand Bells), Ms D Cole (Michael and Mr E Jones), Ms Karen Crawford, Ms J Crompton, Ms A Keats, Ms Ruth Luxton, Ms Kath Martin, Ms B Nash, Ms S Palmer, Ms S Price, Ms J Riches, Ms J Rosser (WDBC staff), Ms K Wood (North Park Vets), Jane Knight, Judy Owens, Jo Royal, Doreen Smith.

Misses M Bishop, Pam Brock (Mrs Houghton), R Charlton Chard, Becky Entwistle, Maria Gill (Jon Donovan), S Hawking, B Herrod-Taylor, P Lindsay, S Lindsay, S Mason, Katie Sanderson, M Sanders, Sally Vick (Mr and Mrs David Vick), G Weeks,

There were family flowers only, donations in lieu have so far raised more than £1,500 for the Intensive Therapy Unit, RD&E Hospital, Exeter.

Dennis aand family expressed thanks to everyone for their overwhelming support, thoughts, and all the cards and letters which have been greatly appreciated at this difficult time.