A WOMAN who devoted most of her adult life to the brownie movement has died.

Josephine Pole, known as 'Josie', died on May 24 at Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, after battling cancer. She was 74.

Miss Pole grew up and worked in Harlington, where she was Brown Owl with the 5th Harlington Brownies for more than 40 years. She then joined the Trefoil Guild, for retired guide movement leaders, becoming badges secretary and assisting with guide trips.

Miss Pole looked after hundreds of brownie girls over the years, and had kept in touch with many of them.

A member of St Dunstan's Church, in High Street, Cranford, she was a bell ringer and enjoyed taking to the ropes at other churches around the country when visiting friends and relatives.

Miss Pole never married. She worked as a technical clerk for British Airways for 25 years, then on retirement set about seeing the world, befriending many people.

She also became interested in her family history, and managed to locate a previously unknown branch of the family in New Zealand, whom she visited in 2007.

Miss Pole had an 'impish sense of humour', according to her younger sister, Val Rigby, and was a keen poet. Her pen name was Biro, and she wrote about everything happening around her - special occasions, holidays and people she met.

In her last weeks, spent in Mount Vernon Hospital, she composed verses for each nurse who attended her. The family have thanked the nursing staff of Ward 11 for their care and kindness.

Her family said Miss Pole was a beacon of cheerfulness, a friend who saw the best in everyone and whose presence made a difference to the lives of all who knew her. A light had gone out in her family and in the community, they said.

Her funeral will be held at St Peter and St Paul's Church, in St Peter's Way, Harlington, at 11.30am tomorrow (Thursday).

Anyone wishing to pay their respects is asked to make donations to either Cancer Research, Michael Sobell House or St Dunstan's Church. * Did you know Miss Pole? Were you one of her Brownies over the years? To share your memories, please email jackgriffith@ trinitysouth.co.uk. ..