Tributes have been paid to a much-loved mother and grandmother who became a familiar face in Fulham.

Frieda Walker, who died aged 93, came to Britain from her native Austria in the 1930s and found work as an au pair.

She met her husband Leonard on a bench on Wimbledon Common during a day off.The couple were married at the Baptist Church in Munster Road in 1934 and had two sons, Donald and Michael. The family initially lived in Gironde Road, but moved to Bronsart Road when Donald was nine.

Mrs Walker lived there for the rest of her life, during which she became a grandmother to Tanya, now aged 39.

Donald Walker said: "She was a lovely lady and had no enemies at all. She used to do her shopping in North End Road and everybody there knew her."

A talented musician, Mrs Walker was well-known in Fulham for playing the zither, a 37-stringed Austrian instrument. She also played the piano for 14 years for the Sunday school at the church where she was married.

Her son added that she was always very insistent her first name was spelled correctly afer an incident when her driving licence was endorsed for a speeding offence she did not commit. Eventually she was able to convince the authorities her name was spelled differently to the offender's.

Mrs Walker worked for a company called James Hunt which made paper bags in a factoryon Allestree Road, Fulham. She later worked as a secretary in a social security office in Waterford Road, Fulham, until she retired aged 66.

For many years Mrs Walker tended an allotment off Fulham Palace Road, but gave the plot up 25 years ago.

In 1985, Mrs Walker was diagnosed with diabetes. As the disease progressed, she was looked after by Donald. She died on July 27 from pneumonia and her funeral was held at Putney Vale Crematorium on August 1.

Her husband Leonard died in 1988 at the former St Stephen's Hospital, now the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in Fulham Road, Chelsea.