A CHARITABLE woman who came out of retirement to work as a day chaplain at Worcester Cathedral has died.

Shirley Pollard, of The Cedars, Fernhill Heath, died in the early hours of Easter Day - at the age of 77.

The talented musician was born in Essex and she and her family were evacuated to Staffordshire during the Second World War.

When the war ended she trained as a musician with the Royal Academy in London before moving to Ireland with her family - where she played violin in the orchestra of the Irish national broadcaster RTE.

She spent a further 20 years of her life as a musician, playing with various groups including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, before deciding to devote her life to religion and train as a Deaconess in Rugby.

Miss Pollard - who has one brother and two sisters - later moved to Buttermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester - where she came out of retirement to work as a day chaplain at the city's cathedral, often reading prayers there.

She was licensed to take services in Worcester and often filled in at churches in the area.

Miss Pollard - who was also a keen traveller and visited many places including China - spent 10 years of her life in Warndon before moving to sheltered accommodation in Fernhill Heath about a year ago, where she died.

Miss Pollard's funeral will be held at 10.30am tomorrow at Worcester Crematorium.