A PILLAR of the Salisbury community has died after a short illness. 

Frances Pitt-Brooke, who spent 30 years working for the NHS, died surrounded by her family at Salisbury Hospice on June 6, having been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year. 

Mrs Pitt-Brooke was born in Luton in 1954, and lived in many parts of the country, including Durham, Oxford and Salisbury.

She lived on Harcourt Terrace for 25 years with her husband John, where they raised five children -   Jonathan, Jeremy, Laura, Jack and Tom. They also have four granddaughters. 

(Image: Newsquest)

Her career in the NHS including time as a health care worker, helping patients with all aspects of their daily life, including social and physical activities, personal care, mobility and mealtimes.

"My wife was the NHS at its very best", said John. The pair would frequently meet people who Frances had helped many years later, including this reporter. 

Sarah Bailey worked with Frances as a health visitor at Three Swans Surgery for many years, and told the Journal: "We became really good friends and it grew from our work relationship. 

"She was the kindest person and so joyous and she always went above and beyond. All the families absolutely loved her. She really was the loveliest person." 

Frances and John married in Salisbury Cathedral in 1999, and that is where Frances's funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 9 at 2.30pm. 

Mrs Pitt-Brooke was also a key member of the choir St John's Singers, which has supported nearly two hundred different national and local charities, raising several thousands of pounds each year in the process.  She was a soprano and had been in the choir for around eight years. 

Steve Abbott from St John Singers said: "Frances had a beautiful voice and was the most loyal of choir members. We will sorely miss her, but will dedicate this Saturday's concert to her memory. 

"We have lost a true friend, but rejoice that she was one of us". 

The concert - called 'All You Need Is Love' - will take place at 7.30pm on July 6 at St Thomas's Church, and will feature a selection of poetry, prose and music, in celebration of Love.