A long-serving magistrate on the Great Yarmouth Bench, Barbara Evans, who has died aged 89 at her Gorleston home, was also involved with the St John Ambulance.

She had moved to Gorleston in 1953 when her husband, Hugh, joined a long-established GP practice.

Born in London in 1923, as a teenager she was evacuated to Bedford after the outbreak of the second world war. Later, she returned to London and then joined the WRNS (Women's Royal Naval Service) and trained as a radar mechanic. She was one of the specialists fitting radar systems to Lancasters and Mosquitoes.

Demobbed in 1946, she applied to train as a nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital, qualifying in 1949 with the gold award for displaying 'exceptional qualities'. There, she met a house doctor, Hugh, and married the following year.

He was then appointed to a post at the former Norfolk & Norwich Hospital before moving to Gorleston.

Her responsibilities as a wife also involved acting as a combination of medical secretary and receptionist in support of her GP husband.

She became leader of the young wives' group at St Andrew's Church, where they also worshipped, and was a member of the parochial church council.

She was appointed a magistrate in 1964, serving on the Friday Bench, until she retired in 1993.

A keen member of St John Ambulance, she was area nursing officer for the Broadland and Great Yarmouth Division. In 1981, she was invested as a serving sister of the Order.

They celebrated their diamond jubilee and also received greetings from the Queen.

A funeral service has been held at St Andrew's Church, Gorleston, on Thursday, June 13 at 1.45pm.

She is survived by her husband, Hugh, and leaves three daughters, and five grandchildren.

Michael Pollitt