Elsie Sanders, of Windermere Gardens, Alresford, who has died in Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital, aged 93, was a much-loved and respected member of a number of local societies and of her community.

Elsie, a charming, friendly lady, had a comprehensive knowledge of local history and was a long-serving member of the Historical and Literary Society of which she was a past chairman. She was a member of the Royal British Legion and a member of Old Alresford Women's Institute. Until recently she regularly attended meetings of all three organisations.

Although in later years Elsie's eyesight failed her, this did not detract from her great interest in everything around her. Her husband Reg, who shared Elsie's interest in local history, even being the lecturer at the classes she attended, died several years ago.

Elsie was a Londoner, but marriage to Reg in 1939 took her to Manchester, Leicester, Nottingham and then to Guildford before their move to Kilmeston and then to Alresford.

During the war Elsie was with the Education Department in the care of children whose mothers were working in munitions factories. She did voluntary work with the Ladies' Rotary, working at the canteen at Manchester's London Road Station.

In 1967 she and Reg moved to Kilmeston. They wanted to give themselves the opportunity to settle into the community. Elsie became involved in local affairs. She was a member of the village hall committee, a parish councillor and, with Reg, a founder member of the National Trust Association in Winchester.

They were also founder members of the Alresford branch of the Friends of the Samaritans.

Elsie's funeral service will be at Basingstoke Crematorium on Tuesday, September 10that noon.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara, and grandsons, Oliver and Ben - by Margaret Gould