SHE served in the Royal Air Force and was a long-standing member of St John Ambulance as well as enjoying a lengthy career with British Telecom.

Pauline Sargent, nee Sandiford, was born in 1942 while her father Wilfred was working at the air base at Hamble.

She was educated at Wickham House in Fareham and excelled at sports.

Pauline worked at the Post Office in Woolston and signed up for the RAF in the early 60s. She worked as a telephonist in Wiltshire before being posted to Germany. She often joked she would awake members of the camp over the loud speaker in a similar fashion to Ruth Madoc's character Gladys Pugh in Hi-de-Hi!

Pauline joined St John Ambulance in 1978, winning a host of medals and cups. She was regularly on call at Mayflower Theatre over the years.

A resident of Winn Road in Portswood, Pauline worked for British Telecom in Southampton from 1984 to 2000.

She was a strong, determined and highly respected lady.

Pauline was the much-loved sister of Barbara, aunt to Elizabeth, Victoria and Jonathan, great aunt to Jack, Hazel and Oliver and Godmother to Elizabeth, Victoria, Jonathan and Andi.

She passed away last month, aged 78, following two bouts of cancer and a stroke. A funeral service has been held at Test Valley Crematorium and donations made to St John Ambulance in her memory.