THE SON of a woman who died aged 101 has spoken about her life in Sheet, and how her family were central to village life.

Beryl Danby, nee Lockyer, was born there on August 29, 1914, and died January 25, on Hayling Island, where she had lived during the second world war. She was the second daughter of Joe and Daisy Lockyer, who lived in Sheet Stores and Post Office.

Now a nursery, Beryl’s nephew Nick Lockyer, who lives near Romsey, owns it.

His father and Beryl’s brother, John, was in the Parachute Regiment during the war, and afterward ran the Queens Head pub, and bred pigs on land next to the pub, which is now the recreation ground.

Paul said: “Beryl’s father Joseph was from Petersfield, and used to drink in the Queen’s Head. As a boy I would be sent to fetch him to carve for lunch.”

Beryl attended Petersfield High School, and in 1938 married Edward Danby from Penns Road in Petersfield and they moved to Hayling Island.

In 1940, she and Paul, then aged one, returned to live with her parents.

Paul said: “I have lots of happy memories of Sheet in and just after the war.”

In later years, Beryl took up pottery, and a celebration of her life was held at St Peter’s Church, North Hayling on Monday, which was attended by the family and her friends.