TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'proud mam of a rugby obsessed son', who was 'at the pitch-side come rain or shine'.

Jennie Evans, 56, passed away peacefully at home in Hartpury on Monday, August 5, in the company of her beloved son, Jimmy Evans and her husband Simon Smith.

She had been diagnosed with Stage IV bowel cancer back in September 2015.

Her son Jimmy (James) went to Thomas Keble School and Jennie was a school governor there from October 2012 until her death.

Jimmy played for Minchinhampton, latterly captaining the Colts, and Jennie could alway be found pitch-side, cheering the team on, whatever the weather.

Earlier this year, Jimmy organised a rugby tournament to raise funds for cancer charity, Penny Brohn UK. The charity gave a lot of support to Jennie and she ended up becoming an ambassador for them.

Jennie and her family lived in Chalford Hill a little over five years, from 2012 to 2017, but she started life on the other side of the world.

She and her three siblings (Tony, Gill and Alison) were all born in Singapore, the children of then barrister John and infant teacher Barbara Lloyd.

The family returned to the UK in 1965 and she spent her childhood living near Bristol.

When she was 13, the family moved to Pembrokeshire, West Wales: her fierce sense of Welshness grew from that point, and Pembrokeshire always remained “home”.

On her Twitter account Jennie described herself as a 'proud Welsh mam of a rugby obsessed son'.

She attended the University of Swansea where she studied English.

Later on her natural flair for public speaking led her into lecturing and business development.

She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2015.

Jennie had nothing but praise for the superb care she received, from her oncologist, Dr Nick Reed, to the fantastic chemotherapy nursing team.

She was also greatly impressed with the work of Penny Brohn UK, a charity whose tag line is ‘living well with cancer’.

She said: “I credit the NHS with saving my life and Penny Brohn with showing me how to live it”.

She quickly became their go-to person to represent the charity, doing various public speaking engagements on their behalf.

Jennie's sister Alison Bevan said: "Jennie was one in a million.

"Her professional legacy lies in the positive impact she made on everything she did and everyone she met, and her personal one was to love and be loved greatly.

"She will not be forgotten."

Her funeral is at All Saints’ Church, Bisley at 11.30am on Friday, August 16. Everyone who knew Jennie is welcome to attend.