TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated woman who served thousands of theatregoers over 34 years manning Worcester Swan Theatre's sweet stall.

Renie Coombs - who died earlier this month at the age of 92 - was known to everyone in the theatre world having sold confectionery since the Swan opened in 1965.

But she had been involved in Worcester's theatre scene even before that as her brother Hedley was one of the founding members of St John's Players.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Miss Coombs ran a hat shop, called Renie's in St John's Bull Ring.

She was also a Sunday School teacher at St John in Bedwardine church.

After she moved across the river to Britannia Square with her brother, she would still cycle to the church even into her 70s, remembers Ray Archer, a friend and member of the St John's Players.

"She was quite a character and a lovely lady," said Mr Archer. "She was well known by everybody and well liked by all."

Serving on the sweet counter became a second career for Miss Coombs, who was there without fail for every show until she retired in March 1999 at the age of 87.

Hedley Coombs died three years ago and neither he nor Miss Coombs married or had children.

Charming lady

"She was a very charming lady who was very fond of her holidays," said Frank Welbourne of the Swan Theatre Company, the theatre's resident amateurs.

"She was very fond of the Balearics and would go there even quite late into her life."

Miss Coombs died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Sunday, November 2.

More than 50 people, many from the theatre world, attended her funeral service at Worcester Crematorium on Friday, November 14.

Instead of flowers, mourners were invited to give donations to St John's Players, as had happened at Mr Coombs funeral.

"With the donations from Hedley's funeral we bought a power drill which we call Hedley," said Mr Archer.

"We might do something similar for Renie."