Born in Scotland, Mrs Hayward moved to Ashfield, in Suffolk ,with her family at the age of three .

She worked as a nursing auxiliary at Hartismere Hospital before her marriage to John Hayward in 1952. They lived at Brome before moving to Castle Street, in Eye, where they brought up their daughter Jean and son Andrew.

Mrs Hayward helped her husband in his business as a taxi driver and coach proprietor and also assisted in a grocery shop in Castle Street and a boutique in Broad Street, until John retired through ill health in 1979 and died four years later.

Mrs Hayward, who has two grandchildren, Ross and Corinne, helped her daughter set up a hairdressing business in the town.

She was a keen flower arranger and belonged to the High Suffolk Flower Club.

The vicar, the Rev Andrew Mitcham, officiated and a retiring collection was made for the Eye Church Development Fund.

Donations to the fund in her memory may be sent to Rackham’s Funeral Service, The Waveney Chapel, 43 Stanley Road, Diss, IP22 4BN.