Residents and friends of a ‘generous and lively’ woman have created a beautiful memoir in her memory.

The book was created in memory of Jocelyn ‘Jo’ Ponting, of the Aveton Gifford Parish, who died after a short battle with cancer in 2016.

The book was published by the Aveton Gifford Parish Project Group, and has contributions and memories from friends and family all around the area.

Jocelyn was heavily involved in most village activities and fundraisers, and was a past parish council member and part founder of the Parish Project Group. Jo put a lot of time into local and family research, leaving an important archive for the parish.

The book starts with a memoir written by Jocelyn herself, with stories about her family moving to Grove Park Farm, what life was like living without electricity, helping her mum and dad on the farm, their friend the dockyard cabinet maker, her mum winning Winnie the pig at the church fete, going to Aveton Gifford Primary School and other details of what life was like living on a farm in the late 1940s and 1950s.

The memoir then goes on to talk about Jocelyn’s love for gardening, including an article she wrote for the MAGpie.

The book finishes with memories from Jocelyn’s friends talking about how generous, supportive and kind she was.

Neil Cooper, one of Jocelyn’s close friends, wrote: “In many ways Jo still feels close by. Every time we go back to Grove Park, we feel her presence. She enriched our lives and gave us love and friendship that will always be with us.”

Copies of the book are available at the Aveton Gifford Shop and Harbour Book Shop.