Betty Peake, clerk to the parish council at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster, for the past six years, has died aged 69 after a short illness.

Mrs Peake, of Woodrow, Chadd-esley Corbett, near Kiddermin-ster, first worked as a shorthand typist at IMI, later becoming head of the firm's secretarial training course.

After taking a teacher's training course, she joined the staff of Sandwell College and taught business studies and computing for 20 years before taking early retirement. She and her partner, Dr Michael Bird, a retired Sandwell College lecturer and Wolverhamp-ton magistrate, began a computer training business from home. She taught new technology to many businessmen and was also newsletter editor of the Wyre Forest Business Club.

Parish Council chairman, Councillor Derek Stocker, described Mrs Peake as "a lovely lady" who always had time to listen to parishioner's concerns.