Charitable Judith was a 'real one off' (From Stroud News and Journal)

Charitable Judith was a 'real one off'

FRIENDS have paid tribute to a dedicated nature lover and charity worker whose life was cut short by cancer at Christmas.

Judith King was manager of the RSPCA shop in Lansdown until her illness forced her to give up the job she loved a year ago.

She was well-known in the community for her selfless charity work. "She was a real one-off," said friend and colleague Midge Leney.

"She was a wonderful person and everybody who knew her liked her. "She had such a sense of humour and was a lovely, kind person."

Judith was very popular with the volunteers at the shop and brought out the best in them. She was known for her talent at helping people and had a real rapport with the elderly. She had become involved with the RSPCA because of her genuine connection with the natural world.

"Her love of animals was at the bottom of it," said Ms Leney. "She was very fond of the country and loved nature -wildlife, trees and flowers, all of it." Judith died a week before her 57th birthday on December 27.

She was responsible for the entire organisation of the animal charity shop and her ideas and planning have made it the popular and smooth-running outlet it is today.

Her happy disposition and leadership will be remembered with great affection by all who worked with her and by many of the regular customers.

Judith was born and brought up in Pitchcombe and lived in the area for most of her life. She is survived by her husband Chris and children Karen and Stewart.