A PETERSFIELD woman with a passion for the town and helping those living there has passed away aged 95.

Elsa Bulmer, once described as Petersfield’s ‘first lady,’ died peacefully at Rotherbank Nursing Home, at Liss, last Wednesday.

Her son, Andrew, said: “She had a passion for people and the town. She always wanted to help the underdog, animal or human. But her family was always the centre of her life.”

During the Second World War, Elsa served in the Fleet Air Arm section of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. After the war, she joined British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a stewardess on flying boats.

In 1947 she met her husband-to-be, Ken Bulmer, a BOAC pilot, and in 1957 they moved from Bahrain to Steep, and then to a house off Ramshill, the family home for more than 50 years.

In that time, she combined raising a family with charity work, and being elected a councillor, firstly with Petersfield Urban District Council, and then Petersfield Town Council.

The mother of Andrew and his sister, Karen, also served for many years on East Hampshire District Council. She was also a magistrate, serving in the old Petersfield courthouse.

Elsa was a founder and lifelong member of Petersfield Age Concern, being its chairman and raising money for its first minibus.

Easily recognised in her vintage convertible Morris 1,000 car, she was also the leading light behind the first women’s refuge in the town.

She became deeply concerned about the lack of housing in the town. Never one to walk away from a problem, she helped start Petersfield Housing Association, raising money for it by swimming the Solent in 1978 at the age of 57.

In 1996 Elsa, now a proud grandmother of five grandchildren, and more latterly a great-grandson, was made an MBE for her community service. This included being secretary to the area’s RSPCA branch, and chairman of a club for the over-50s.

Such was her support of elderly people that the Hampshire County?Council owned care home in Petersfield was named Bulmer House in honour of her and Ken, who died in 2008.

Andrew said: “She had tremendous energy, great personal charm, and was always full of encouragement.”

The funeral is at 2.30pm on Friday, July 15, in St Peter’s Church, Petersfield.