A FORMER shopkeeper from Lytchett Matravers, who took part in nearly 40 village carnivals, has died aged 87.

Sybil Martha Morris was born in Staffordshire on June 28, 1924, as one of seven sisters.

She became a household cook at 16 until she moved to factory work to support the war effort.

A keen Guider, Sybil married a Scout Ivor Morris in 1946. They built their own bungalow and had a son Paul, in 1950.

Ivor – also known as Les – moved to Tanganyika, in Africa, around a year later, and Sybil stayed behind until their second son Phil was six months old.

For a while the family lived in a grass hut, later moving to a proper house in Morogoro.

Sybil got involved with local schools, eventually running the town’s nursery school.

The couple moved back to the UK and bought Sylden Stores, in Lytchett Matravers, which they ran until 1972.

Sybil, who became an Auntie at Lytchett Playgroup, was famous for her tricycle and took part in nearly 40 carnivals.

Her last was titled Auntie Sybil’s Swan Song.

She then started helping at a day centre and was popular for her games and activities.

A fan of magazine competitions and TV’s Countdown, Sybil moved to Derbyshire last year to live with son Paul.

By now a great-grandmother, Sybil suffered a stroke and died last month.

A funeral was held at the Woodland Burial Centre, in Colehill, on April 30.

Donations to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Stroke Association.

Leave your tributes below.