A STALWART member of the Salvation Army in Redditch has died in a Callow Hill care home at the age of 97.

Winnie Skinner was born into the organisation and spent her entire life supporting and promoting the cause.

During her working life, she spent time at needlemakers Terry Springs and Shrimpton and Fletcher and also worked as a dinner lady at St George's School.

Within the Salvation Army, Mrs Skinner was in the Songster Brigade and was the Cradle Roll Sergeant, which meant she was responsible for registering all the babies born into the organisation within her branch.

She would then make sure she kept in contact with all of them, sending birthday cards and correspondence until the youngsters were old enough to join Sunday School.

After falling for his future wife, Mrs Skinner's husband, Bert, joined the Salvation Army and played drums in its Crabbs Cross band for the rest of his life.

The couple had three sons, one who sadly died at birth, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Son Clive said: "She was a great mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a very jolly lady who will be missed by everyone whose life was touched by her.

"As well as her love for the Salvation Army, she was also a fanatical gardener with a passion for flowers.

"Whenever my dad went shopping in the town he always bought her a bouquet of some sort - he wouldn't have dared not to."

Mr and Mrs Skinner celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary six years ago.

Mr Skinner passed away three years ago, aged 93.