Long-serving Trunch Methodist Church organist Rene Warner, who has died.

A community stalwart who played as a church organist for more than 80 years and was a community news correspondent for the North Norfolk News has died aged 93.

Irene Warner, known as Rene, was at the heart of village life in and around Trunch.

She had been a church organist for the past 82 years, 75 of which were at Trunch Methodist Church, and died at home at Trunch on February 27.

In December last year Mrs Warner, who had two daughters, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren, talked about deciding to take what she called a semi-retirement from organ-playing.

Trunch-born Mrs Warner, nee Wegg, went to the village school in Trunch until she was eight and then to Knapton School.

She learned to play the piano by ear at first and started playing in the village’s former primitive methodist chapel at the tender age of 11.

The congregation united with Trunch’s Wesleyan chapel when the present church opened 75 years ago.

As an adult she began to gave piano lessons herself, charging children 6d (2.5p) per hour.

During the war she trained as an auxiliary nurse. She also worked as a carer at Clarence House in Mundesley and played concerts as a member of a band.

She helped her husband Cecil, who passed away 17 years ago, with a smallholding and was a member of the Women’s Institute and a keen supporter of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

A stalwart of Trunch Mrs Warner also did a 21-year stint as editor of village newsletter the Trunch Mardle, and was Trunch correspondent for the North Norfolk News for 40 years.

Her daughter Judith said: “She was just a very busy person and such a lady. She was very family orientated and was a wonderful grandmother and mother.”

Mrs Warner would have become a great grandmother for the fourth time in April.

The funeral service will take place at Trunch Methodist Church on Tuesday March 19 at 10.30am.

The request is for family flowers only but donations, if desired, for Guide Dogs for the Blind or Trunch Methodist Church may be sent to Jackson & Starling Funeral Directors, Marshall House, Midland Road, North Walsham, NR28 9JR.