AN ISLAND woman who devoted much of her life to the local scout movement, Vera Viv Wendes, has died at St Mary’s Hospital, aged 92, following a short illness.
Mrs Wendes and her late husband, Bill, served the 1st Newport (The Old Guard) Scout Group, one of the country’s oldest existing scout groups, for more than 25 years. They devoted most of their time to running the cubs.
In 1979, she was awarded the coveted Silver Acorn Award for her long and distinguished service to the scout movement. It was presented to her by the grandson of the scout movement’s founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell.
She also earned the Medal of Merit in 1973 and was loved by generations of young scouts in the unit.
Born in Tonypandy, South Wales, on March 6, 1925, Mrs Wendes, of Hinton Road, Newport, worked for the County Press for 35 years, as a dispatcher.
She joined the newspaper after she was recommended for the job by a friend, having previously worked for the wholesale grocers Upward and Rich in Pyle Street, Newport, where she started when she left school, aged 14.
She was educated at The National School in West Street, Newport.
During the war, she was on fire look-out patrol around Newport, reporting fires caused by incendiaries dropped by Nazi aircraft.
Mrs Wendes (nee Whatley) married Bill, who served 1st Newport for 54 years and spent 27 as its leader, at St Paul’s Church, Newport, on March 13, 1945.
They celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2005.
Mr Wendes, who received the MBE for his services to scouting, died on May 7, 2011.
In retirement, Mrs Wendes enjoyed gardening, swimming, reading, crosswords, knitting, sewing and baking. She was a fan of TV shows Countdown and Neighbours and enjoyed watching rugby.
Her funeral was held at the IW Crematorium, Whippingham, on Wednesday.
She leaves two sons, Rodney and David, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.