THREE trees were planted in a Test Valley village as people stopped to remember the commitment their neighbour made to their community.

The family of Tara Scougall were joined by scores of friends and family in Houghton as they came to see them plant them in her memory.

Born in Hampshire, Tara moved to Houghton six years ago and within four days was on the village hall committee and served on the parish council.

During her time one of her achievements was to raise funds to renew the furniture in the hall.

But sadly she died in December after losing an 11-month battle with cancer.

In tribute, her husband James, and their two children, Eleanor and Edward, planted two white Crab Apple trees and one pink Hawthorn outside the hall.

A plaque will be placed near the trees later in the year.

James thanked everyone for their support over the last few months and added that the trees would be a reminder to everything the 43-year old was.

He said: “These trees are a statement to everything that she was about. Everything that she did here she was devoted to wholeheartedly. She did the best of everything here in Houghton that she was capable of."

One of her friends, and her colleague on the village hall committee, Clare Stephens said: “I think it would be nice to drive by the every day and see them. “It would be a lasting memory for her.”

Daily Echo:

Last week James and her friends launched a campaign to raise £1.2 million over the next two years for an RNLI lifeboat named in her memory.

In the four weeks since her funeral £18,000 has been raised with £1,000 raised on the day when the news was announced in the Romsey Advertiser.

Born in south London, Tara worked for a number of firms including Microsoft and Expedia while she was living in Hampshire.

Her parents, John and Diana Betts, have a house in Swanwick and their yacht, Tara B, is moored in Warsash.

Married to James for 15 years, she was the chairman of the May Fayre event in Upper Clatford and Anna Valley when she was living there.

Tara was also involved in the parent-teacher associations for both the Pilgrim’s School and St Swithun’s School, both in Winchester.

Houghton Parish Councillor Ingrid Burt said she was “always the first to volunteer”.

“She was a complete breath of fresh air, bringing enthusiasm, energy and a brilliant “can do” attitude. Nothing was too much trouble for Tara,” she said.

To help Tara’s family and friends with their cause visit www.justgiving.com/remember/249450/Tara-Scougall or email tara@scougall.com