A WELL-LOVED Cricklade woman who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force was laid to rest on Monday after she passed away aged 102.

Ruth Webster was born May 19 1918 in Sharpness and grew up with her two brothers, Jack and Wallace.

She attended grammar school in Bristol and emerged as a young lady not unafraid of challenges.

On October 5 1930 they moved to Filton, a particularly memorable day for those of her family because it was the day the airship R101 crashed.

Here, her brother Jack showed her how to use a micrometer and a Vernier, which resulted in a job at the British Aircraft Corporation.

Ruth then decided to join the air force after her bother joined the RAF and as WW2 began she was called up to 501 Squadron at Filton.

In her memoirs Ruth recalled, “When they were called up the girls were asked if anyone could use a PBX phone [a phone on a private telephone network].

“Needless to say, my hand shot up and I was made Corporal in charge of the signals and telephone exchange.”

After the bombing in Filton, King George the sixth visited the Squadron and her section paraded in the cold to salute him as he passed.

Much to her surprise he stopped and got out to shake her by the hand and talk to them.

By the end of 1941 she was promoted to Flight Sergeant and was posted to Morecambe, where she met her husband Jack.

Here she was in charge of new recruits including Sarah Oliver, the daughter of Winston Churchill.

The PM spoke to Ruth over the telephone instructing her to treat his daughter as any other recruit.

In September 1943 their son Alex was born but Ruth faced some difficult years after that, suffering the loss of a baby and her husband.

She remarried in 1949 and moved to Cricklade, over 27 years ago.

Ruth’s granddaughter, Rachael Mundy said: “She was such a strong character and a very independent woman.

“Thankfully we had Christmas with her, she hadn’t really left her house since March so it was a lovely day.”

Ruth passed away peacefully in hospital on January 5.