Tributes have been paid this week to a remarkable lady, believed to have been one of the last surviving members of Bomber Command during the Second World War.

Peggy Edwards sadly passed away at her home in St. Florence last Saturday at the age of 99.

A charming lady, she had been part of the wartime Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and served as a sergeant in an operations room, where bombing raids of Nazi Germany were planned.

She was always immensely proud of her service to her country and five years ago made a nostalgic return visit to the airbase at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, where she had been stationed between 1942 and 1946.

And only in May this year she was at the centre of St. Florence’s VE Day celebrations when she was driven around the village in a flag-bedecked car.

Peggy and her husband David, a well-loved couple, had retired to St. Florence after running Sandyhill Guesthouse in Saundersfoot for many years, with Peggy enjoying life in the bed and breakfast business so much that she refused to call it a day until she was 82.

Both also enjoyed their regular visits to local hostelries where they were always delighted to meet up with the regulars and enjoy a few drinks and a lively chat, and their genial personalities meant that they made many friends over the years.

Sadly, David died suddenly four years ago, but thanks to the kindness of her friends, Peggy, always with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face, was able to continue living life to the full.

One of those friends, Carol Grant, said: “Peggy was held in high regard as the matriarch of St. Florence.

“She was a wonderful, charismatic lady who was so proud of her wartime service.

“Everybody loved and respected her, and she made so many friends.

“It’s such a shame that she didn’t make it to her 100th birthday, but we are hoping to have a celebration of her life on that day next March.”

Another added: “Peggy will be so missed by us all, just as we have all missed wonderful David too. They absolutely adored one another and we, who were lucky enough to have known them, certainly will not forget them.”

A private funeral service will be held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, next Saturday, July 18, at 11.30 am. So that friends and neighbours can pay their last respects, the cortege will be leaving Peggy’s home in Parklands, St. Florence, at 10.45 pm, passing the Sun Inn and village stores before travelling back through the village for the service at Narberth.

There will be family flowers only, with donations in memory of Peggy, if desired, made payable to Greenacres Animal?Rescue Centre, c/o the undertakers, Messrs W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons,?The Old Rectory,?The Norton, Tenby, or Landsker House, Station?Road, Narberth.