Well over a hundred people attended the funeral of Patricia Asa Thomas, held at St Mary's Church, Crawley.

"Pat", as she was known, had the honour of being presented at the court of King Edward VIII in 1936.

She served in World War II in the Land Army and the Mechanised Transport Corps, driving motorcycles, tanks and ambulances. She had problems with motorbikes falling off their stands and were heavier than she was!

After hostilities, she became a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

She was an accomplished artist in both oils and watercolours and was awarded the "Read" Prize for art. She exhibited at Bath and the Royal Society of British Artists and was founder chairman of two art groups.

Shortly before she died, she had managed to attend watercolour classes at the Peter Symonds' Adult education Centre.

She married Edward Asa Thomas in 1940 and went to live in Somerset after the war. During her time there, she became a member of the board of governors for higher education in Somerset.

She and Edward moved to Crawley in 1956 and she was commissioned JP on the Winchester bench in 1966, a position she held for 21 years.

She was churchwarden for St Mary's Church and vice-chairman of Crawley Parochial Church Council. She was also a representative of the rural decanal, deanery and diocesan synods.

A true all-rounder, Pat played county level tennis, won a swimming trophy for the Brighton Pier to Pier Race and golf and skiing medals and played croquet for England.

She was president of Crawley Cricket Club, a playing member of the Crawley Bowls Club and president of Littleton Croquet Club. In 1991, she was awarded the Horse Trials Award for her outstanding services to eventing.

Pat survived two cancer operations and a couple of strokes before dying peacefully in her sleep, aged 86, at Westacre Nursing Home, Sleepers Hill, Winchester.

She leaves two daughters, Antonia, who lives in America, along with her family and Pat's only greatgrandson and Michele, who lives in Crawley with her family.