AS I write my weekly report, this one is more difficult as over the years attending various functions and events in the villages in my patch, I have made very many friends not least Katie Brazington of Chapel Farm, Redmarley, who died suddenly last week.

Her funeral has taken place at the church at Redmarley which she loved and served over a great many years as churchwarden and latterly a deacon.

I first met Kate when I was asked to report her mother-in-law's 99th birthday and then her 100th and attended both as a guest - they were wonderful occasions made special by Kate. Since then, we have been friends and she always let me know of anything special in the church and village.

She wrote to me just a week before she died and hoped everything was alright in the church as she had to miss several meetings which she said was the first time in years.

She will be greatly missed by her family but also by the church, school and village and by her friends.