Cecil Gillington FORMER councillor and magistrate in Devizes Cecil (Kate) Gillington has died at the age of 93.

Mrs Gillington lived at a farm at Eastcott near Easterton for over 20 years, then in Pans Lane, Devizes, followed by Dalecare in Market Lavington.

Mrs Gillington was born and brought up in London and moved to Eastcott in about 1950 and later inherited the farm from her father.

Mrs Gillington's second husband Colonel John Gillington was a hero of the Battle of Arnhem. He was awarded the Military Cross, the MBE and the OBE for his distinguished service in the Second World War.

He suffered a stroke which completely disabled him in 1959 and he died 11 years later.

Mrs Gillington was a member of the former Devizes Rural Council, Kennet District Council and Wiltshire County Council. She was also a magistrate on the Devizes County Bench and was chairman of Easterton Parish Council.

Among her achievements as a county councillor were establishing a baby clinic in Market Lavington, a joint new primary school for Market Lavington and Easterton and for dustbins to be collected once a week instead of fortnightly.

She also helped to start the Crown Centre and Salvation Army lunch club in Devizes.

She once belonged to the Liberal party but represented Lavington on the county council as an Independent member.

She later joined the Labour party and was vice-chairman and treasurer for the Devizes constituency but quit in 1981 to join the Social Democrats.

She was deeply religious and worshipped at St James' Church in Devizes and St Barnabas Church, Easterton.

She had two children, Simon Grandage and the late Sarah Sercombe and a step-son Rodney Gillington.

She also had five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Her funeral service took place on Tuesday in London. Her son is intending to arrange a memorial service in Wiltshire.