A WOMAN who taught thousands of young cyclists about road safety, and spent years helping various good causes, has died aged 88.

Verona Linnard, known to family and friends as Vicky, was awarded the MBE for services to road safety in 1987.

She was involved in road safety for over 25 years with the Christian Road Safety League and Rospa and was an instructor and examiner for the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme.

She was a regular figure at Saturday morning sessions at the training and testing centre in King's Park.

Until her retirement, Mrs Linnard, who lived in Littledown, also worked in cycling training at local schools, including special schools, and received two letters from Dorset County Council praising her work with Alma Road and Turner's School.

Born in Christchurch and living in Iford in her early years, she served as a lieutenant with the Signals Corps from 1940 to 1947.

She met and married her husband, Wing Commander Sidney Linnard, a fighter ace, in Austria.

The couple lived in Egypt, Norway and various other locations before returning to Bournemouth.

Mr Linnard retired aged 48 and both were active in raising their sons, Peter, who has passed away, David and Stephen.

They were married for over 40 years until she was widowed in 1988.

Son David said his mother's time and energy for charitable causes knew no boundaries.

She was a volunteer within a Red Cross charity shop for over 25 years, helped at the League of Friends hospital appeals shop within the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and helped a number of other causes.

"She was just a wonderful mother," David said.

Mrs Linnard is also survived by her brother Peter Stone and his wife Chris from Bournemouth, and six grandchildren.