February 16, 2001 15:01: A WOMAN who dedicated her life to improving her local community has died at the age of 86. Muriel Seymour, known to many as Betty, passed away peacefully at her home last Sunday (February 11).

A service of thanksgiving will be held at All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe, on Tuesday, February 20 at 12.30pm, followed by a private cremation.

The family requests family flowers only and all donations should be sent to Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, through David Silvey funeral directors, Westbourne Street, High Wycombe. The family also give their sincerest thanks for the superb care given by social services, the medical and nursing teams at Shrublands, the Links, Wycombe Hospital, The Chiltern Hospital, Wendover Health Centre, Aylesbury Intermediate Care Team and Iain Rennie Hospice at Home Ridgeway Team.

Mrs Seymour grew up in Flackwell Heath and attended Wycombe High School. She met her husband Monty in 1931 when she visited Hughes' Chemist, High Wycombe, where Monty Seymour was a pharmaceutical apprentice.

From the moment he laid eyes on her, Mr Seymour knew Betty was the one for him. As fitting for any modern fairytale, Mr Seymour then prophesied to his boss Mr Hughes: "I'll marry her some day."

As was the tradition at the time the pair were 'formally introduced' at a young farmer's dance in 1933 and wedding bells rang out seven years later.

Mr Seymour, who is president of the Royal British Legion and Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, completed his pharmaceutical training in 1937 and has no doubts about the reason for his success. "Without Betty, God knows how I would have gotten through those trying years of training," he smiled, "She had a great head for numbers and never tired in quizzing me for my exams."

The couple were inseparable as Betty took over the accounts and other duties at her husband's pharmacy, when he took over Hughes' Chemist in 1951.

A keen community member, Mrs Seymour led by example, undertaking work as a Juvenile Court Magistrate, and offering herself to community groups including Meals on Wheels, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, WHS Guild and the Alms Houses Committee.

Mrs Seymour was also an ardent Wycombe Wanderers supporter, who tried not to miss any home games.

She is survived by her husband Monty, daughters Pam, Jackie and Gill, sons-in-law Roger, Geoff and Dionysios, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.