FORMER teacher, president of Verwood Concert Brass and community stalwart Pamela Reeks has died at the age of 82.

Pam, who had a passion for helping others, was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to the Verwood community in 2014.

She lived in Verwood for most of her life after moving from Wilcot in Wiltshire at the age of 12 and even wrote her first thesis about the area in 1968.

Pam worked as a teacher at Hillside First School where she specialised in music but she also helped youngsters learn tennis in her role as the school’s tennis coach.

She was also heavily involved with the building of the new tennis courts at Potterne Park in Crane Valley after East Dorset acquired the land from a local farmer.

Pam was one of the founding members of the Community Association which organised the first annual Rustic Fayre in September 1982.

The early events took place on Reg Day’s field at Ebblake, which has since been built on, and it was transferred to Potterne Park where it is still held today.

In 1982, Pam and her engineer husband, Ron, were asked if they would bring their vintage vehicles to the Rustic Fayre so Pam and Ron turned up with a car, motorbike and lawnmower.

The event was a huge success and Pam and Ron continued to organise the display of stationary engines and vintage vehicles until they retired in August 2006.

Pam was also a founder member of the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre and also a trustee/archivist, giving talks about the pottery to visiting groups, and arranged many of the exhibitions held in the centre.

She was also a founder member and archivist of the Verwood Historical Society.

In 2012, Pam was also honoured with the title Freeman of Verwood.

Music was a big part of her life and she first became organist in the local congregational church at the age of 16, later providing accompaniment for shows such as the Gang Show.

She was heavily involved with Verwood Concert Brass for many years and played 2nd Horn in the B Band with both her daughter and granddaughter and became the band’s training conductor.

She was proud to represent Verwood Concert Brass and was one of the band’s biggest supporters, attending band concerts, travelling to competitions and attending the closing performance of the Wessex Summer School week.

Verwood Concert Brass said to many Pam was regarded as the ‘mum of the band’ through her “encouragement, kindness, enthusiasm and generosity to all”.

A spokesperson said: “We owe her a great debt of gratitude for how she has supported Verwood Concert Brass and nurtured so many players.”

They added: “Her kindness was demonstrated through a lovely anecdote we learned of where she sat next to a young band member in the car on the way to band gigs in order to help them learn to drive.

“But not only did Pam look after people, she did so much for the band. For many years she helped run the training band. Copying music, arranging lifts, sorting uniforms and of course delighting in the achievements of players when music grade exams were passed.

“Pam was there at band committee meetings doing her bit. Living just a few hundred yards from the band hall, Pam was there keeping an eye on the hall. If anyone was needed to attend local community events meetings, Pam volunteered. Need a stand in conductor, Pam would stand in.” They described Pam as an “amazing lady” who will be greatly missed by so many.

Pam passed away on November 5 and was wife to Ron, mum to Ian and Kay and grandmother to Michael, Catherine, Stuart and Annie.

A funeral service took place at Verwood Methodist Church on November 21 with people invited to give donations to Verwood Concert Brass and Verwood Heritage Centre.