MALVERN Library has secured a copy of an account of the lives of three sisters, one of whom lived in Malvern during the last century.

The Aunts: A Brief Memoir is the work of the late Pearl Jephcott and has been published privately by her sister-in-law June, of Stratford-upon-Avon.

The one sister, Anna, who is referred to as Frances in the book, lived in Malvern between 1873 and her death on January 27, 1906.

In a lengthy obituary published in the Malvern Gazette the following week, she was described as "a lady whose whole life was unselfishly devoted to good work, work all the more remarkable as she was invalid from early years".

Miss Boobbyer, who lived at Dulwich House, North Malvern Road, was born in Dulwich in 1831.

She dated her ill health to "terrible pains" suffered in her back during a visit to the Lake District. She went to Tunbridge Wells in 1854 for her health and then Malvern, before receiving treatment in Brighton, London and Matlock.

She returned to Malvern in 1873 for hydropathic treatment but stayed, gaining a reputation for good works, including supporting missions to hoppickers, the YMCA and sending clothes to soldiers in the Boer War.

She was buried in Great Malvern Cemetery. The book will go into the local collection at Malvern Library.